How can the Church view in vitro fertilization (IVF) as a failure to respect life, when literally millions of babies have been born through this technique? Especially since it is used by many who may not have been able to become parents without it?

For many people, these are the only two aspects of IVF ever considered. If we only look at the good results and overlook or ignore everything else that may be involved, we can justify any number of morally problematic things. It becomes a classic case of “the end justifies the means.” For the Christian this is never acceptable moral reasoning, despite its prevalence in society.

So how does IVF fail to respect life? To answer this we have to know something about what is involved from start to finish. Information and statistics are readily available. Many fertility clinics post detailed descriptions of what is involved online. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compiles a wealth of statistical information regarding IVF which is likewise readily accessible.

IVF begins with the acquisition of both sperm and eggs. While acquiring the sperm is relatively uncomplicated, acquiring a woman’s eggs is more delicate and may involve a lengthier process.

Typically several eggs are acquired at once.

Eggs and sperm are then joined in a lab by the physician or technician. Normally, several conceptions occur. After approximately three days, there is a selection process for those newly conceived human embryos who are still alive.

At this stage, these tiny human beings are “graded” based on their projected survivability. The greater the likelihood one  will survive, the higher the grade received; typically on a scale from zero to three, with three being the most likely to survive. Once this grading has taken place those who score the highest are chosen for possible implantation. The others are typically discarded.

Just to be clear, conception has occurred, new, individual human lives exist, lives loved and known by God, already made in His image, but only those deemed strong enough and desirable enough are considered for possible continued existence. The undesirable lives are destroyed.

How many? It varies greatly, but it is reasonable to say that it may be half a dozen or more. If this process sounds like eugenics, that is because it is.

After the selection comes the implantation of some of the embryos. Depending on how many embryos have been created to begin with, this number can vary greatly. Commonly between two to four human embryos are transferred at a time, but there may be more. Remaining embryos are typically frozen for possible “use” later.

Those implanted don’t have a great chance of survival either. For a woman under the age of 35, for every six embryos transferred, one is likely to be born. If several embryos begin to develop, a “selective reduction” may be recommended. This means that one or two may be spared and given the chance to continue living, while the others are “selectively reduced” (killed).

Under ideal circumstances several human beings are still knowingly and intentionally destroyed in the effort to achieve one birth. Success rates are based on live births per IVF cycle (the process just described), not on how many of the original human lives that were created are actually born nine months later.

Estimates vary, but from start to finish, it is not unreasonable to suggest that for every one child born through IVF, 25 to 30 will have been created. Those that were not lost or destroyed in the process typically end up with an uncertain future trapped in liquid nitrogen.

Seen for what it is in practice, it becomes abundantly clear that IVF is far more anti-life than it is pro-life. But even if IVF did not involve such tremendous loss of life, there are other serious concerns over the ethics involved, especially involving marriage itself.

Look for more on this topic next month.