This is an introductory piece on thinking biblically about infertility, IVF, and adoption. Click here to explore more resources from The Gospel Coalition on Bioethics and Human Dignity.
Upwards of 27 million people—men and women—are affected by infertility in India, according to a report in Economic Times. Modern medicine offers In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as a solution to couples facing infertility. But it comes with many complex questions and struggles that we must face, so we are not ignorant, discouraged, or uninformed.
The Shame & Pain of Infertility
Couples who face the inability to have children due to medical problems endure much grief and face many unanswered questions. It’s painful to have a natural desire for biological children that goes unfulfilled, despite non-invasive medical interventions.
Apart from the personal disappointment, they have to bear the weight of cultural, social, and extended family expectations. As a result, physical pain comes with the awful experience of shame, making their difficult journey all the more challenging.
In the Christian community in India, some people falsely equate the fruit of the womb with the strength of one’s faith, a sign of acceptance and God’s favour. When people see birth through this moralistic lens, they interpret infertility to be a sign of weak faith, rejection, and God’s displeasure.
It is hard to imagine the pain couples facing infertility go through unless you have experienced it yourself.
The Challenges of IVF
If non-invasive medical methodologies have failed, the technological solutions are confusing and challenging—ethically, morally, and emotionally.
Technological solutions to infertility have advanced so much. At one end of the spectrum, there is simple, non-complex, intrauterine insemination (IUI) of the sperm to address minor challenges a woman might have. On the other end of the spectrum, if you have the money and know-how, you can “order” the “right” sperm or ova and make a donation. Then, you can choose a surrogate mother and outsource the entire process.
It is hard to imagine the pain couples facing infertility go through.
However, the most common choice is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This option is available at prices the upper and middle class will consider reasonably affordable, though it is unaffordable for the poor.
IVF is where the embryo is created outside the body. Practitioners collect the husband’s sperm and wife’s ova and then implant the embryos into the uterus. The ethical and moral issues increase in complexity when couples use donated sperm and ova.
The Effect of IVF on the Body and Mind
The preparation the mother must go through with intense hormonal treatments will have much effect on her body and emotions.
In the Christian understanding of life, the embryo is a person with life.
Furthermore, it is not easy to bear the anticipation of a positive outcome, given that such intervention has a 30-40% success rate. The whole process is emotionally intense.
Spiritually, infertility brings people into battle with a sense of failure, and they can feel like God has abandoned them. After all this, if the process fails, the disappointment is difficult to bear.
The Ethical Questions of IVF
The process of creating the embryo in vitro (outside the body) is itself an ethical and moral issue.
In the Christian understanding of life, the embryo is a person with life who must be treated with the care and respect that a human being deserves.
It means that the medical team should not create more than the number of embryos actually required without freezing any for future use.
If donated sperm or ova is involved in the process, the whole issue of parenthood becomes confusing and complex.
The Confusion Around Alternatives
An alternative to IVF is adoption. Many communities and cultures view adoption in confusing and challenging ways. Some people look down on adopted children or treat such children as inferior to biological children.
God took a special interest in many families who were barren and walked with them.
Even in communities that accept adoption, it is treated as the second best option, viable only if there is no way to have a biological child. Any interactions with friends and relatives who hold such views make the pain and journey more challenging.
The Need for Compassionate Fellowship
In such a context, as disciples of Christ, we need to educate ourselves about the pain that infertile couples go through. We need to develop an understanding of the moral and ethical challenges and come to an informed conclusion about the nuances of the technological solutions which are currently available.
Furthermore, we need to grow in our theological understanding of adoption. Our adoption by God should shape our conclusion about adopting children. We also need to grow in our compassion and competence to accompany families struggling with issues related to infertility.
In the Bible, God took a special interest in many families who were barren and walked with them (1 Sam. 1:10-20, Luke 1:5-7). He specialises in bringing beauty out of brokenness. His compassion should make us agents of grace and truth to families that are facing the pain of infertility.
Our Hope in Christ
Unfulfilled longings are difficult to cope with, but our human situations do not define our true worth, value, or identity.
Jesus was an unmarried, childless man, yet he is not incomplete, inadequate, or “not good enough.” In fact, through him, we are complete before God, adequate for him, and fully approved by him.
Nothing but our hope in Christ can anchor our hearts through the painful trials of life, whatever they may be.
