In vitro fertilisation

The widespread availability of IVF

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a technique, or set of techniques, for achieving conception outside the natural process. “In vitro” is Latin for “in a test-tube”; this is where the term “test-tube baby” comes from. Sperm is obtained from a donor (whether from the partner of the mother or not) which then fertilises an egg (which may or may not come from the intended legal mother). The fertilised egg (embryo) is then cultivated either externally on a petrie dish, or internally, having been implanted in the womb.

Today thousands of couples are availing themselves of IVF, since more and more people are finding it difficult to conceive naturally. IVF might seem a completely realistic and safe way of responding to what can often be a traumatic situation of infertility. However, there are severe ethical problems with IVF, which is in fact a gravely immoral practice. The problems can only be summarised here, but the issue is dealt with sensitively elsewhere.