What Do We Do About Infertility?
“Research aimed at reducing human sterility is to be encouraged, on condition that it is placed ‘at the service of the human person, of his inalienable rights, and his true and integral good according to the design and will of God'” (CCC, 2375).
What Do We Do About Infertility?
We’ve tried to get pregnant. But no success. Why can’t we have kids? Isn’t this what marriage is about – starting a family? What do we do now?
Facing infertility or difficulties getting pregnant can feel daunting. But Christians are people of hope. God has many blessings in store for the future. We will explore how procreation is not the only purpose of marriage, how couples might ethically treat infertility, and how couples can continue to consider the vocation to parenthood. To learn more about the Catholic approach to infertility, check out the resources below.
The Cornerstone of Love
The Catechism says, “The spouses’ union achieves the twofold end of marriage: the good of the spouses and transmission of life” (CCC 2363). When marriage does not result in offspring, the Sacrament is still directed to the good of the spouses, which is achieved by each spouse loving the other and together doing God’s Will.
In one of his letters of exhortation, St. Paul writes about the three theological virtues: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). St. John Paul II said that married love, even for those who are infertile, is indeed fruitful when it is “open to others, to the needs of the apostolate…the needs of the poor…the needs of orphans.” The faithful are called to be charitable to all, even those outside their family. Our Lord Jesus said, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?” (Matthew 5:46). Instead, we are called to love even those who are hard to love. Love is the cornerstone of marriage and of the Kingdom of God.
Different Kinds of Fertility Treatment
The Church approves of some fertility treatments and disapproves of others. The Church subjects these procedures to the ethical criteria of natural law and human dignity. Catholics believe that in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, artificial insemination, and the obtaining of seminal fluid via masturbation are morally unacceptable.
However, Catholics understand the following procedures to be in accord with human nature and the dignity of persons as destined by their Creator: Observing the natural fertility signs of a woman’s body (aka Natural Family Planning), medical treatment of ovulatory dysfunction, the use of various agents to address erectile dysfunction, correction of mechanical blocks to tubal patency, techniques to boost sperm, techniques to address hypospadias or premature ejaculation, NaPro (Natural Procreative) Technologies, and more. Learn more about ethical and unethical treatments from this USCCB document and this summary of infertility treatments from the National Catholic Bioethics Center.
Discerning Adoption
The husband and wife who carry the cross of infertility can turn to the Lord, pray that His Will be done, and ask for peace. This level of faith, combined with seeking to live the fruitfulness of their conjugal union, including prayerful discernment about adoption or foster parenting, will strengthen the spouses and help them live their vocation in love through the Holy Spirit. In his Address to Adoptive Families, St. John Paul II said, “To adopt a child is a great work of love. When it is done, much is given, but much is also received. It is a true exchange of gifts.”
To learn more about the many blessings of adoption, check out the resource directly below.
