Increased demand 1. Declining levels of fertility 2. Legalized abortion1 in 6 couples have infertility problemsTypes of artificial insemination 1. AIH: by husband 2. AID: by donorIn Vitro Fertilization

Conception outside the womb

Artificial Insemination By HusbandCollect husband’s sperm and inject it into the wifeLess controversial 1. Involves the husband 2. Does not interfere with the marriage bond 3. Legal status not a problemRoman Catholic Church – problem with masturbationFor many Christian’s this is an acceptable means of artificial reproduction

Artificial Insemination By DonorDonor sperm is used rather than the husbandsWhy? 1. Husband does not want to pass on a genetic disease 2. Sterile because of a disease or accident 3. Concern over antibody rejection from the mother (RH + - problem)Only scientific concern; accidental incest due to donor sperm being used multiple timesOther concerns 1. Legal status of the child 2. Single parent homes

Problems1. Effect on marriage relationship2. Don’t know identity of the donor

Major ethical concerns 1. 3rd party into the pregnancy, weakens the marriage bond (especially if surrogate mother is used) 2. Violates Biblical view of parenthood (Abraham & Sarah & Hagar) 3. Violates Biblical view of sexual relations by separating unitive and procreative aspects of human sexuality in marriage

In Vitro FertilizationJuly 25, 1978 first test tube baby, Louise BrownEgg fertilized and grown outside the womb for short period of time(GIFT) Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer – directly in fallopian tube so that fertilization can take place(IUI) Intrauterine Insemination - frozen sperm by catheter directly into the uterus(ZIFT) Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer – fertilized in lab and transferred into fallopian tube(ICSI) use pipette injects single sperm into the egg and placed into uterus

$ highSuccess rate 21%Can increase success rate now to 60% testing for a genetic markerRios situation (inheritance)Paternity questions with surrogate parenting (reverse Solomon dilemma)Surrogate grandmother – age no longer a factorPossibility of female reproduction without male involvement – egg fusion- two eggs from 2 womenStatus and loss of embryos?

Biblical PerspectiveSanctity of Human life Genesis 1:26-2726 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.God’s protection and care to the unborn (Psalm 139) 1

3 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Threat to sanctity of lifePotential loss of fetal lifeDestroying fertilized ova that appears abnormalHyperfertilizationUse of embryos in research

Biblical view of sexual relations Genesis 2:2424 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Artificial reproduction separates from sexual intercourse – human reproductionBiblical view of parenthood Genesis 1:2828 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Childbearing no longer a natural outcome of procreationGod is in control when people do not attempt methods that violate the sovereignty of God over lifeShould maintain an attitude of seeking the Lord’s will