IVF as a Christian

[hardlyprofitable]

I have endometriosis and we are trying to conceive. I am 35. I am praying we conceive the natural way but due to endometriosis I know this may not be possible. This has led to us considering how we would proceed if things don't happen for us and the ethics of IVF for Christians. To be clear I have no clear answers and no desire to judge anyone I am thinking only of my own situation.

I don't have a problem with the process of IVF except I am unsure of the moral status of early embryos. I know that 50-70% of fertilised eggs don't implant under natural conception but destruction via IVF feels somehow more morally problematic. Anyway, pray for us please and offer perspectives if you can.

not a practicing Christian myself but I think some people with such beliefs have their leftover embryos implanted during times in their cycle where the embryo is highly unlikely to implant. This could end up costly as embryo transfers are expensive. Not sure how you would feel about that .

Thankyou for responding. I am aware of this in the USA, I don't think anyone would do it in the UK as it's an unnecessary elective medical procedure which could harm you with no intended positive outcome. It also seems like an extra step to destruction, though I understand why many people would find it more comforting.

that’s true but if it does come to that you would need to consider what you will do. Most people aren’t lucky enough to even have leftover embryos. Some people however could end up with numerous leftover embryos. I guess at the end of the day you would need to take this into account when you make the decision. I wish you luck with your journey and hopefully you won’t have to make any hard decisions.

My church group discussed the IVF process recently as we've a couple trying to conceive naturally, so far unsuccessfully. We believe the soul is present from the moment of conception and so any embryos who are stored are, in effect, souls trapped for the duration of time until they are either implanted (and hopefully go on to become viable fetuses and are born later) or are kept in storage, maybe for years (up to 55 years in the UK apparently), until either they are destroyed or used. Sometimes they're donated for stem cell research, our church would be against this, as we would be against implanting with the intention of the embryos having no chance of implantation.These souls are likely not aware of anything although we don't really know, but it's something to consider.

I wish you every success with your journey towards parenthood!

Thankyou gentle sheep for your thoughtful reply.

As 50-70% of eggs fertilised in the natural way also don't become babies do you think these are also trapped souls? This is why I think there is ambiguity, as otherwise most people in existence were never born, but I'm cautious that may be because I want to belive that. I wouldn't destroy a healthy embryo, I would donate, but I know no-one would take a low grade embryo so they could end up discarded.

I have always been against abortion personally (unless my life was at risk or the developing baby had complications incompatible with life outside womb), because the baby is implanted and developing, but have no problem with contraceptives which prevent implantation because implantation is prevented so often by our own bodies.

I don't hold judgement for other people in their decisions, I can't imagine many situations people find themselves in.

I'm hoping and praying it doesn't come to IVF but I'm thinking a lot about it because I do very much desire a family.

I believe their souls return to their Creator just as ours do when we die. They aren't trapped as those who are frozen in storage are. Of course they have never experienced existence in our living world so cannot commit sin and would therefore, I believe, be in Heaven. Yes that would be a lot of souls but of course only God knows how many souls there will be in entirety and, if you believe He will make a new Heaven and Earth for eternal life, after Judgement, then He can easily make it large enough to accommodate all the souls that will be there. A soul is a soul regardless of whether it existed in or outside the body or for how long that was for.

Yes it's very difficult, my own mother nearly aborted me (back in the 1950s) as she found herself in a very hard situation. Fortunately she was turned away by a doctor. I totally understand why she would have considered it, and am glad (as was she!) that she didn't do it. So yes, no judgment on those who find themselves in terrible circumstances.

I appreciate your response again. I know all things are possible through God but I struggle to envision a heaven where the majority of souls never lived on earth. For this reason I think ensoulment possibly happens later, maybe at implantation, although it is impossible to know. I will continue to think and pray. I do think that regardless of when ensoulment occurs, there is value in the earliest life stages because they are individuals, even if they haven’t developed yet. I certainly wouldn't want to be flippant about that.

I appreciate you engaging with me, and your perspective. It is such a hard topic for me to talk to people in my life about.

I think it's a very interesting topic and definitely one of those 'we won't know till we get there' things. I appreciate your view and thank you for listening to mine. I know whatever you choose to do, you'll be praying about it and that does count for a lot, God is so merciful and hears you.

I don't know if this wikipedia will be helpful, but this article has the views of different demonitions regarding IVF.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_response_to_assisted_reproductive_technology

There was a little mention of IVF and lack of children in one of my Bible's and I photoed it. You can download and save it and enlarge to read if you wish to.
The feature seems to say you need to pray about this for God to lead you to what to do and it is an indvidual thing.

I appreciate the battle you’re facing and have dropped you a private message.

One thing I found beautifully comforting is the reminder of all those difficult stories of infertility in the Bible. How many women have grieved and lamented in the same situation as a woman desiring a child so desperately. Praying for you as you navigate these difficult decisions, and sincerely hoping you find support in your journey of those who understand your faith perspective too.

@ByLovingTraybake puts it very well. Prayer. You may not want to hear this but we discussed fertility treatment before trying for children and decided we wouldn't if it didn't happen naturally, but don't judge those who do as it's impossible to know how we'd actually have felt. I hope you find peace with whatever decision you make.

Thankyou so much for all your replies and especially for your prayers. For now we are trying naturally with hope and prayer, and I consider all your insights closely if things don't go as we hope they will.

I’ve not had any experience of this OP, but just wanted to let you know I have been praying for you.

Thankyou for your prayers, we conceived naturally in the end.