My Sister’s Keeper

My Sister’s Keeper

by

Jodi Picoult

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Term Analysis

In vitro fertilization is a method of conceiving a child by combining an egg and sperm in a controlled laboratory setting rather than during sexual intercourse. IVF has many benefits, such as increasing rates of successful conception for individuals struggling to conceive and allowing for surrogate pregnancies for families that need them. However, IVF is also sometimes controversial due to the ability to screen embryos for genetic traits, which some people claim is a way of creating “designer babies.” Sara and Brian use embryonic screening to conceive a perfect match donor for Kate, resulting in Anna’s birth.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Quotes in My Sister’s Keeper

The My Sister’s Keeper quotes below are all either spoken by In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or refer to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Bodily Autonomy Theme Icon
).
1. Monday: Anna Quotes

I was born because a scientist managed to hook up my mother’s eggs and my father’s sperm to create a specific combination of previous genetic material. In fact, when Jesse told me how babies get made and I, the great disbeliever, decided to ask my parents the truth, I got more than I bargained for. They sat me down and explained all the usual stuff, of course—but they also explained that they chose little embryonic me, specifically, because I could save my sister, Kate. “We loved you even more,” my mother made sure to say, “because we knew what exactly we were getting.”

It made me wonder, though, what would have happened if Kate had been healthy. Chances are, I’d still be floating up in Heaven or wherever, waiting to be attached to a body to spend some time on Earth. Certainly, I would not be part of this family. See, unlike the rest of the free world, I didn’t get here by accident. And if your parents have you for a reason, then that reason better exist. Because once it’s gone, so are you.

Related Characters: Andromeda “Anna” Fitzgerald (speaker), Kate Fitzgerald, Sara Fitzgerald, Brian Fitzgerald, Jesse Fitzgerald
Page Number: 7-8
Explanation and Analysis:
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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Term Timeline in My Sister’s Keeper

The timeline below shows where the term In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) appears in My Sister’s Keeper. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
1. Monday: Anna
Bodily Autonomy Theme Icon
Siblinghood Theme Icon
Parenthood Theme Icon
Control Theme Icon
...only gave her the usual discussion but explained to her how she was conceived via in vitro fertilization to save her sister Kate. Anna muses that, if Kate never got sick, she likely... (full context)
10. 1990-1991: Sara
Bodily Autonomy Theme Icon
Siblinghood Theme Icon
Parenthood Theme Icon
...their decision to conceive a donor for Kate. Sara explains their situation pragmatically, stating that in vitro fertilization was more time-efficient than having babies over and over until one of them was a... (full context)