IVF: Is it okay?

In vitro fertilization is a highly controversial topic that I did not give much thought to before discussing it in VHS class. I always viewed IVF as positive because happy couples get babies out of it. Never, did I consider while watching shows such as John and Kate Plus 8 (the Gosselin parents had their twins and then sextuplets thanks to IVF), the Catholic Chruch’s view on IVF. I just saw the cute kids and happy family as an outcome.

The Catholic Church discourages in vitro fertilization because they believe conception should only occur by sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. They do not believe a baby should be made in a dish in a scientific lab. The Catholic However, I did like the one woman’s view in the US Catholic article that God made science and people, and therefore IVF is in a way another creation of his.

Still, the Catholic Church’s views and the Dateline episode of the “egg switch up” made me think more about the cons of IVF. Human error is a big con for me. Another con is that the eggs not implanted and left over may then be destroyed. The financial cost of IVF is not a con, in my opinion, because if the couple receives the joy of a baby it will be priceless.

I still see the positives outweighing the negatives for IVF, but I think every couple needs to seriously discuss the option of IVF before deciding it is necessary. I think a better option would be to request to have only 3 initial eggs made, and all implanted at once, so each one gets a chance at life instead of making 10 and the extra 7 being destroyed.