Women's relationships with their stored IVF embryos

What is it about?

This article draws upon a series of art works by German born American artist Kiki Smith in order to explore the ways in which women speak of, and understand, their stored IVF embryos.

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Why is it important?

Recognition of feelings of connection to the human embryo, including to imagined future potentiality need not, and should not, play into foetal life discourse or be utilised to delimit women’s reproductive choices. I argue quite the reverse: proper recognition of, and regard for, these complex and contingent feelings of relationality should lead regulators and clinicians to accord women a broader range of options and practices concerning embryo storage, use and disposal, including return to the body, self-discard and forms of ceremony, if these are desired.