6.3 Assisted Reproductive 6.3 Assisted Reproductive TechnologiesTechnologies

• Infertility = the inability of a couple to have a baby• Assisted reproductive technologies mostly involve

removing eggs from the woman, fertilizing them, and returning them to the uterus.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, there are two aspects of sex that must be fulfilled:

a) The PROCREATIVE aspect (open to the possibility

of new life)

b) The UNITIVE aspect (which can only be fully

realized when in the sacrament of marriage) see

CCC 2366 http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm

***NONE of the ARTs mentioned below fulfill both aspects.

See pages 224 - 229

Types of Assisted Reproductive Technologies

1. Artificial Insemination - donor sperm is placed in the female.

2. In vitro fertilization (IVF) - egg and sperm are collected and fertilization

takes place in a dish. Embryo(s) then placed in female’s uterus.

3. Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) - eggs and sperm are collected,

mixed, then injected into the woman’s fallopian tubes.

4. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) - a single sperm is injected directly

into an egg.

BUT…• Reproductive technologies help childless couples, but carry a

higher risk of birth defects.

• Also creates the problem of “unwanted” embryos. What should be done with them?

A child is a gift, not a right.

As soon as a child becomes a right, it becomes property, not a person-a commodity

that can be bought or sold.

For example:

a) $ale of eggs/sperm/embryosb) Who owns the egg/sperm/embryo?c) What happens to the “leftover” embryos?d) What are the rights of a surrogate mother?

See CCC 2373-2391