THE REPRODUCTION REVOLUTION
Approximately 15% of couples desiring to have children are unable to do so after one year of normal marital relations. According to the most common definition of fertility, such couples are “infertile.” More couples suffer from infertility today than ever before, for a variety of reasons. Some delay attempts at conception until later in life, when fertility rates decline. Others suffer the consequences of sexually transmitted diseases which can cause difficulties with conception and carrying a pregnancy. In many cases, the cause is unclear. ‘When infertility occurs, some sort of intervention is needed for conception to take place.
People will go to great lengths to conceive a child, for the longing to have a child is a powerful drive. A biblical list of things never satisfied includes a “barren womb” (Pro. 30). The need here is a generalization, not a mandate for each individual woman; however, it does suggest that the desire for a child can be intense and ongoing. Therefore, many couples, unable to conceive naturally, seek guidance from the theological community, counsel from the legal community, and assistance from the health care community. Many medications and procedures are currently available to assist couples in fulfilling the desire for children. People turn to assisted reproduction to continue the family line or family name, to contribute to the next generation, or simply to fill their homes with a child’s love.
The basic ethical issue here is whether or not any medical interventions are acceptable. Should faith alone be sufficient in all areas of life, including fertility? When people disagree over the use of particular reproductive technologies, it is usually because they disagree about fundamental principles such as the sanctity of embryonic life or the appropriateness of using technology to alter the “natural” way that fertilization takes place within the body. There is a pressing need for a wide range of people to work together to clarify basic Christian convictions on these matters.