Q&A Home > I > In-vitro Fertilization (IVF)

• My goal for my future is to go to medical school and become a surgeon. It takes eight years to complete both college and medical school and five years of residency for a general surgery an extra two years of professional work because I plan on joining Doctors without Borders. I would start working by the time I am in my mid-30s. My main concern is how I am able to start a family, I am worried that at the age that I will be working having children will be harder in addition to the job I am planning on having. I do not want to miss out on the opportunity of having a family of my own and I do not want my job to interfere with that. I have looked at many options. One that caught my attention was freezing my eggs. I do not know if the Church would approve. I know there are some issues with IVF but I do not plan on discarding the embryos or committing any inhumane acts. I just want to know if it is okay to freeze my eggs, so I do not miss out on a family.
• My husband and I have beautiful, naturally conceived children. We have been trying for over almost a year for another baby. My husband is in his late forties and I am in my mid-thirties. He wants to try IVF. My argument is that God has already blessed as with healthy, happy children. If it were His will for us to have more children, it would have happened naturally. I feel by thinking of IVF we are defying God's will and simply being greedy rather than thankful for the blessings that we have. I understand that IVF is acceptable for couples who cannot conceive. Where does our Church stand on our situation please?
• What is the Church's view on in-vitro fertilization (lab fertilization)? Is it going against God's will in creating a woman incapable of giving birth?
• What is the church's view on older women (50/60 years old) having IVF?