IVF is more common today than ever before. Not only has technology advanced to help infertile couples conceive, the definition of married couples has also changed, demanding the need for IVF for more couples to fulfill “their” dreams of becoming parents. Many view IVF as an answer to increase shrinking populations – which can be debated. Others turn to it to make money. And for those couples using their own egg and sperm to expand their family, it can be an overwhelming blessing.
So, what are the downsides? Have we thought through this process, considered the impact and concerns for all those involved in the process – most importantly the child? In today’s Issue Update, Rebecca Heiner shares some things to ponder and gets us thinking more deeply about the world of in-vitro fertilization.
Recognizing life as sacred,
Wendy Wixom, President
United Families International
What You Need to Know about In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
The Good and the Bad.
By Rebecca Heiner
December 17, 1903, was a significant day in American history. This was the day that a few short seconds managed to impact the world in a major way. On this particular day, Wilbur and Orville Wright (two brothers from Ohio) managed to successfully fly an airplane for 12 glorious seconds above the sand dunes of North Carolina. This victory was the first of many, opening doors to the future of aviation and over 5,000 airlines worldwide operating today.
Despite progress being necessary and good, it is crucial to understand that progress also can generate both positive and negative outcomes. In the case of the Wright brothers, I imagine they could have scarcely believed that their twelve seconds of success would one day pave the way for large groups of people to be comfortably transported throughout the world in what we now know as airplanes.
In contrast, I imagine they would have also been horrified to know their beloved discovery would one day be used as a weapon to carry out the infamous September 11th terrorist attacks , killing 2,977 innocent people.
Innovation and the Sanctity of Life
While the polarizing effects of innovation will always exist, we shouldn’t be wary of growth. Instead, we should acknowledge and identify both the good and the bad possibilities and consequences that accompany new discoveries. This is especially true when it comes to advances regarding the precious gift of life. Scientists and health professionals today have made significant strides in saving and prolonging life. Today, lifesaving measures can be administered through advanced techniques, medications, and knowledge. Things are always evolving, and continuing to learn how to preserve life is one of humankind’s greatest endeavors.
Of equal importance is the ability to create life. A difficulty of our time, regarding reproductive health and the creation of life, is infertility (or the inability for a couple to conceive a child). While there are many possible causes of infertility, healthcare continues to focus on treatments. IVF, or in-vitro fertilization, is one such treatment that doctors rely on to assist their patients in conception. You may have experienced personally, or through a loved one, the miraculous results of such a procedure. I know I have. Three weeks ago, with the help of IVF, my nephew and his wife welcomed their first child into the world. I experienced first-hand the pure joy of advanced fertility treatment. Where one door had been closed, another had been opened.
While IVF has been identified as a useful tool in the treatment of infertility, it is important to acknowledge the other side of IVF. This is the side where a moral conundrum exists regarding the sanctity of life. Caught up somewhere between the argument of viability and human rights, thousands of fertilized embryos, created during the process of IVF, are discarded or frozen every year in medical facilities across the globe. And in the realm of pro-life, where life begins at conception, this is a significant problem.
Controversy & Ethics
As explained here, IVF “has been a source of moral, ethical, and religious controversy since it’s development.” This is not hard to believe considering there is a broad spectrum of possibilities when decisions regarding the creation of life is taken out of the hands of the creators (the parents) and put into the hands of a third party (such as the healthcare system, scientific experts, pharmaceutical companies, politicians, etc.). When this happens, the sanctity of life is determined not by the creators, but by the third party. And they influence the creators about what is ethical and why. When that third party intervenes, morals and ethics can become secondary to other aspects of fertility deemed to be important, creating some questionable outcomes.
The result (the successful birth of a healthy baby) is not where most of the questions lie. It is how IVF is conducted and what takes place within the process that raises many of the moral and ethical concerns. Some of these concerns are based on the following points:
- The Discarding of unused embryos.
- The use of an anonymous sperm donor in IVF- disrupting the order of the family and placing a child in the position of never knowing his parentage and/or ancestry.
- Severing the connection and bond that takes place between a man and woman (ideally husband and wife) through the conjugal act of procreation.
- The possibility of multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.) because of multiple eggs being implanted at once to improve the odds of conception, but then facing the possibility of needing to “reduce” (abort) one or more of the preborn children.
- Freezing of embryos for the future. – Halting the progression of a life created or abandoning them all together.
- Polygenic Embryo Screening- Creating “Designer Babies” through a screening process.
- Big Pharma operating so as to maximize the making money on fertility treatments.
Each of these points is worth considering when we stop and look at the big picture of IVF. It’s crucial to recognize this goes far beyond simply “making a baby” for couples experiencing infertility. The implications can be far reaching, and it’s our responsibility to consider all consequences, both positive and negative, when confronting the issues within our societies.
IVF in Politics
Recently, IVF has been making headlines. In February of this year, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling that “embryos created through in vitro fertilization should be considered children.” The Alabama court’s ruling was the result of a suit filed by three IVF couples against a fertility clinic where their frozen embryos were being stored. When an unauthorized patient gained access to the storage room of the clinic and mistakenly dropped the couple’s frozen embryos, they filed a Wrongful Death lawsuit. Their first court hearing dismissed the case. But when they appealed to the Alabama Supreme court, the judge ruled in their favor, declaring that unborn children are children, and they are protected under the “Wrongful Death of a Minor “Act.
This ruling sparked controversy within the debate surrounding reproductive rights. When it comes to IVF and reproductive rights, it’s safe to say it is complicated. Republicans and Democrats continue to be divided about the matter. With the 2024 presidential election upon us, IVF has been a hot topic alongside abortion. Democrats, who typically support all sides of IVF, viewed the Alabama ruling as demonstrative evidence of a crusade to ban all reproductive rights, including IVF. The narrative continues that republicans are now keeping families from having children by banning IVF. (See the video of VP Kamala Harris condemning the Alabama ruling at a Roundtable event, February 22, 2024). It is important to know that Alabama lawmakers quickly moved to exempt IVF clinics from civil and criminal prosecution under the new ruling.
Recently, presidential candidate Donald Trump declared that if elected for another term, he would make IVF costs covered by insurance, in the hopes of making it more available to couples experiencing infertility. This was big news considering IVF is incredibly expensive and rarely covered by insurance plans. The cost can be anywhere from $12,000.00 -$25,000.00 for one IVF cycle. Trump has been under scrutiny for his support of the overturn of Roe Vs. Wade, so his announcement surprised republicans and democrats alike.
Points to Consider
As we draw conclusions for ourselves about the ethics of IVF, let’s try to remember the principle that both good and bad can exist within the same space. This, like many of the controversial issues that exist in the world, is one that will continue to evolve over time as we learn more about the intricacies of fertility and infertility. We can acknowledge the good IVF has done, while also recognizing the problematic aspects it has created.
Commit yourself to learning all you can about this issue. Turn to valid resources, such as this informational guide with facts and statistics about IVF. Study sources dedicated to facts. Check out United Families International’s webpage regarding the Sanctity of Life for more information about the issues at hand, and how we can make a difference. Make sure you go into the upcoming election with as much knowledge as you can acquire.
And one thing we can do, regardless of where we stand on this issue, is to respectfully value the gift of life. When we see life as indispensable and miraculous, giving it the highest priority within our communities and societies, everyone wins. Life is a precious gift, and it deserves protection from innovations and laws that might cheapen it or take it away.
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Rebecca is a Senior at BYU-Idaho and will soon be graduating with a B.S in Marriage and Family Studies. She lives in Riverton, Utah with her husband, and for the past 22 years they have been raising and loving their three daughters. She enjoys reading, writing, and relaxing in the backyard on summer nights. Rebecca is passionate about the importance of families and hopes to continue her journey advocating for strong and healthy family relationships.