CLAIM:
A truly pro-life stance would recognize that the lives created through IVF outweigh its potential drawbacks.
REBUTTAL:
The term “pro-life” is always intended and generally understood to define the desire to protect any human life that would be in danger. Christians who call themselves “pro-life” often point to Proverbs 31:8, where they see the instruction:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
For Christians, “any human life” truly means “any” human life. To the Christian, it does not matter whether life is male or female, healthy or unhealthy, loved or hated, wanted or unwanted.
The Bible defines human life as existing within the womb (Psalm 139:13-16; Job 10:11-12; Jeremiah 1:5; Isaiah 49:1,5; Luke 1:41-44). The Bible also identifies that life exists at conception (Psalm 51:5).
These realities mean that in in vitro fertilization (IVF), when egg and sperm are joined together, life has begun. The geography of that event, whether it happens in the fallopian tube or in a Petri dish, is irrelevant.
In 2013, it was reported that in the average IVF procedure, there is “embryo wastage” of more than 65% for every live birth for women under 351https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5306416/ accessed 10-10-24. It is higher for older women.
Translating that into real numbers, on average, for every child born alive that was conceived through IVF, more than six had to die. A pro-life person would love the child that was born and deeply mourn the six+ children who had to die for that one live birth.
The “truly pro-life stance” cherishes every life, even those born through IVF. Yet, to be truly pro-life, a person would criticize and oppose any activity that seeks to give life by taking life. For that reason, Christians, consistent in their pro-life convictions, would criticize IVF procedures and do what they can to protect those lives, first by educating the general public and secondly by using the democratic process to preserve life, as we have other laws to protect lives.
