1. In-Vitro Fertilization

2. What is in-Vitro Fertilization:
A method of assisted reproduction
A man's sperm and the woman's egg are combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization occurs.
The resulting embryo is then transferred to the woman's uterus to implant and develop naturally.
Usually, 2-4 embryos are placed in the woman's uterus at one time. Each attempt is called a cycle.
What is it?
-Basically, a man’s sperm and a woman’s egg are combined in a petri dish by a doctor or assistant.
-The result is an embryo which after 3-7 days the strongest are chosen and usually 2-4 are placed in a woman’s uterus. This attempt is called a cycle, and depending on its success, more would be required.
-There is a ¼ chance that any given cycle will be successful.

3. Defining Marriage:
"The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” CCC 1601
-Dietrich von Hildebrand. "No natural human good has been exalted so high in the New Testament. No other good has been chosen to become one of the Seven Sacraments. No other has been endowed with the honor of participating in the establishment of the Kingdom of God.. The wonderful, divinely appointed relationship between the mysterious procreation of a new human being, and this most intimate communion of love. illuminates the grandeur and solemnity of this union. Thus it is that in order to preserve the reverent attitude of the spouses toward the mystery of this union, this general connection between procreation and the communion of love must always be maintained."
-"The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” CCC

4. What is Infertility:
Infertility is the inability of a couple to become pregnant (regardless of cause) after 1 year of unprotected sexual intercourse -using no birth control methods.
Affects 10% of couples at reproductive ages
-Infertility is the inability of a couple to become pregnant (regardless of cause) after 1 year of unprotected sexual intercourse -using no birth control methods. 10% of couples at reproductive age are infertile, and of them"only 8– 10 percent of couples in treatment need high-tech procedures" such as in vitro fertilization.
-Greater knowledge can help some couples: lifestyle factors like stress, exercise, nutrition and even seemingly insignificant modifications can assist in conception: wearing boxers, eliminating nightlights, using iodized salt, certain cough medicines… Sometimes, our reliance on science overpowers us.

5. Necessity of IVF 10% of couples at a reproductive age are infertile
Estimated that only 8-10% of couples need high-tech solutions (such as IVF)

6. Three main issues with ivf
Donors and the IVF Process
Leftover Embryos
Effects on the Family
-these are three dilemmas which the Catholic Church specifically takes charge against.
-The IVF process and the action of donating an embryo, egg or sperm
-Leftover Embryos – what do we do with them
-Effects on the Family, relationships between the spouses, effects on the woman and effects on the child

7. Donors & Doctors Violates the unity aspect of marriage
In males, sperm is obtained as a result of masturbation
“Person to Petri Dish to Person”
- if the definition of marriage includes using sex for the purposes of unity & procreation, doesn’t any additives of sperm, egg, embryo, doctor, assistant or catheter take away from the sanctity of the act?
-masturbation is considered a moral sin, sperm can be donated or bought for the purpose of IVF, but in many cases it is a result of masturbation. The act of masturbation may not be made in a selfish way, it could be to bring about a new life, however, simply because an act leads to conception does not make it morally acceptable.
-Person to Petri Dish to Person – once again it removes the unitative aspect of sex. By adding a third person the couple are blocking thie union as mand and wife. Donum Vitae counsels that these techniques betray the spouses’ "right to become a father and mother only through each other.”

8. Leftover embryos
extra eggs are fertilized; choice to freeze or destroy
Doctors can evaluate embryos at an early stage, deciding which to discard
-Extra Eggs are fertilized, to lower the cost for the clinic and the couple
-the couple must sign a consent form on what to do with the leftover embryos upon success of the IVF: discard, save and freeze for later use, freeze for other couples to adopt, or to donate to scientific research.
-If life starts from conception, should a parent be responsible for these offspring of theirs?
-The doctors can also evaluate from an early stage which embryos are strongest and most likely to implant well, therefore, the ones that are frozen are weaker, recent studies also show that frozen embryos are not as effective as ‘fresh’ embryos either.

9. Effects on the spouses IVF is a daunting experience
"right to become a father and mother only through each other"
God is present permissively rather than actively
-IVF is a daunting experience – stressful, and the couple must be prepared, most clinics offer therapists to help along the process
-right to become a father and mother only through each other" - getting rid of the unitive aspect
-God is present permissively rather than actively – we force God to create this miracle

10. Effect on the woman Emotional, mental and relationship stress
Physical problems
Ovarian Hyper Stimulation
Hormonal imbalances
Treatment side effects
“Placenta Previa”
-emotional, mental and relationship stress
-trying and failing to pressures from families and spouse, support from the partner is necessary
-Physical Problems
-Ovarian Hyper Stimulation – possibly fatal side effect from drugs used to stimulate the ovaries before taking the eggs.
-Placenta Previa is six times more likely to happen to IVF pregnancies

11. Effect on the child
In the case of a donor: denies him of a filial parent(s)
Disrupts the ideal flow of genetic parenthood to gestational parenthood to responsibility for upbringing
The embryo is of the same personhood as any other baby and has the same rights
-In the case of an anonymous donor – child is denied of a biological parent
-Ideally, a child has the same genetic parents, gestational parents and they are also responsible for the child’s upbringing. Obviously, this is not always practical, but it is an ideal way for a child to be raised.
-The embryo created via IVF is in no way any less of a person than one who is naturally conceived.

12. Physical effect on the child
91% of babies born through IVF are born without any major birth defects
2x’s as likely to develop a heart defect
-The majority, 91% of babies born via IVF are free of birth defects
-but they may be at risk for later developing problems. These are not necessarily a result of IVF, but could also be caused by the fact that many IVF treatements are conducted on women over the age of 35 (in 2006, this number was 3 out of 4 IVF treatments)

13. Infertility as a blessing
couples are still called to be “fruitful”