Sex/uality Artifacts

Hello everyone! My name is Lauren Gittinger. In class I presented clips from the show Friends as my sexuality artifact. In the first YouTube video, Phoebe’s brother, Frank Jr., and his wife, Alice, ask her if she would like to be the surrogate mother for their baby because they are unable to conceive. Frank Jr. explains to Phoebe how InVitro Fertilization works and what the process entails. They mention how expensive the procedure can be and realize this responsibility is a lot to ask of her. However, Phoebe does not have any hesitation and is pleased to be the surrogate mother. In the following video, it is the day that Phoebe will have the embryos implanted into her uterus. The doctor explains to her that five embryos will be implanted because there will be more of a chance that the embryos will attach. This number is now typically lower to prevent the outcome of having too many children at once. This statement shocks Phoebe, and she then realizes how InVitro Fertilization does not have a high success rate for pregnancy. These clips from Friends relate to class material because it explains different aspects of InVitro Fertilization. These clips mention the procedure, the cost, and the potential outcome of possibly not becoming pregnant. Although there was not much discussed after my presentation, what was mentioned was the number of children Phoebe ultimately ended up having, which was three. This demonstrated the possibility of having multiple children from one procedure. Even though some instances may result in no pregnancy, others may result in multiple children. In Phoebe and her brother’s situation, this implantation did not call for a sperm or egg donor. Some cases call for a donor which can be either known or unknown to the parent(s) and child, both having negative and positive aspects. InVitro Fertilization is one of the many ways to have children now in today’s society. There are also the options of Intracervical Insemination, Intrauterine Insemination, and Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection to assist with conception (class notes). Those hoping to have children can also try the alternative choice of adoption to achieve their desire of parenthood. These Friends video clips are great exposure to the audience of an assisted conception method when the natural way is no longer an option.