Welcome to our 2013 Bumpie Best countdown! We’re highlighting the most talked about, most stylish and most amazing new mom, pregnancy and fertility moments that have taken place over the past year. Wondering which celeb mama we most admired in 2013? Or which nursery trend was most loved by moms-to-be? Stay tuned, y’all! We’re rolling though the most defining moments the Year of the Snake brought us.
2013′s Most Controversial Fertility News Was…
The creation of spermbots. Researchers in Germany created remote-controlled sperm to help more couples conceive, by way of robotic sperm. The spermbots are made by catching sperm cells in nanotubes and fabricating them onto a wafer (or a chip). Once the spermbots have been fed into the tubes, they’re guided by a magnet to the egg, which increases a couple’s chance of getting pregnant.
According to the scientists, the use of spermbots will increase the likelihood that more and more infertile couples will be able to get pregnant. Prior to the research, researchers were only able to get a few cells to cooperate (meaning only a few moved fully through the tube to the egg). But now, they’re realized how to use a sperms’ speed to their advantage. Now, the tail of the sperm actually does the electrical work in order to get them from the wide part of the nanotube through to the small end and straight to a woman’s eggs. As always, the end goal stays the same: To get more couples pregnant.
But reviews are definitely mixed. Some people worry the scientific “interference” takes the mystery and wonder out of conception, while others believe that the new procedure rightfully makes pregnancy possible for couples no matter their fertility background.
Do you think spermbots will be effective? Or do you think scientists should explore other options? Read what other couples are saying here.
What was the most controversial story you heard all year?
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