IVF is described as unlikely to increase birth rates very much, simply because infertile couples who want biological children aren’t a very significant fraction of the population. However, this response recommends caution in the usage of IVF, because it is unknown if lives are at stake. The question is, when does human life begin? At birth, implantation, or conception? On this hinges the point where laws protect the sanctity of human life.
Current laws protect the child from abortion in the later stage of pregnancy, when the foetus closely resembles a baby. This is already a gross assumption, that a younger foetus can be considered less human. A foetus is either fully human or else is is a soulless cellular mass! Nonetheless, it is established that life starts before birth.
Concerning IVF, if the life of a person begins at conception, than IVF is wrong. About half a dozen fertilized zygotes are actually implanted into the uterine lining during IVF, and usually only one or two is expected to survive and develop into babies. The other fertilized eggs eventually disintegrate – meaning that IVF has more than 50% chance of killing each zygote.
However, if the life (soul) of a person enters him at the point of successful implantation, then IVF is alright, especially because it is God who causes life to begin, and it is His choice to let the zygote develop. Nonetheless, since the Bible is silent on precisely where life actually begins, except that it begins in the womb, so it is advisable for infertile couples to refrain from using IVF. Instead, they can serve God in ways other than raising a family, or else consider adoption.
