The God Vs. Science Debate Around Ivf

By Author: Dr Baidyanath Dastidar
Total Articles: 7
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While modern medical technology dealing in infertility treatments and conception, such as IVF (In vitro fertilisation), may appear to be a boon for childless couples, religious debates surround them as man is accused of trying to play God.

Treatments like IVF (In vitro fertilisation) raise many ethical issues in India. This includes contemporary Hindus, Muslims, Christians and followers of all other religions in this culturally diversified nation.

Indian society has a dominating patriarchal biasing that lays great emphasis on the birth of a son in a family. The son is seen as a source of sustenance in old age and the dowry system encourages the notion of a son being a source of wealth. A daughter on the other hand is viewed as a drain on a family’s wealth, again due to the dowry system.

In Hinduism, there are rituals that are necessary to be performed by a son to secure the afterlife of his parents.

So, this intense desire for sons overshadows any conflict with the ‘unnaturalness’ of procedures like IVF in which the eggs from a woman are fertilized with sperms from a man, outside the woman’s ...
... body in a lab to form the embryo.

Apart from the pressures to have a son the fact that religion prohibits abortion also makes the destruction of embryos debatable. Hindus believe in reincarnation and view abortion as committing murder. Again an interesting religion versus science conflict emerges when the question arises about using sperms for IVF from a man other than a woman’s husband.

The notion of biological descent to carry forward the family name dictates that if IVF is to be carried out then the sperms must come from no other man but a woman’s husband. Artificial insemination with another man’s sperm would be regarded as adultery!

In other religions too IVF faces a lot of debate and in most cases rejection. Similar to Hindus, Islamic thought dictates that IVF may be acceptable if the semen and ovum during the procedure are of a couple who are legally wedded. The IVF must not take place after a couple’s divorce or after the death of a husband. IVF is generally acceptable if it occurs during a couple’s marriage.

The Roman Catholic Church strongly rejects any assisted reproduction including IVF. They debase any practice of manipulating human embryos. Amongst Jews, although IVF is generally acceptable it is stipulated that in vitro fertilization be carried out in the presence of a rabbi to be regarded in accordance with Jewish law.

Despite the religious stipulations, if you seek IVF you must prepare yourself well and seek the best possible treatment for the IVF procedure. For example the GDIFR (Ghosh Dastidar Institute for Fertility Research) facility is a reputed IVF clinic in Kolkata having an exceptional track record and dedicated doctors. This clinic has ultra-modern facilities, excellent counselling facilities and world-class laboratories.

Adopting a proper diet will not only help you in shedding weight but prepare your body to provide nutrition for your baby. Have well-balanced meals comprised of fruits, vegetables, cereals, rice, fish, meat, eggs and low-fat dairy products.

Though IVF has proved to be successful for couples seeking late parenthood, it is advisable that you start IVF treatment early as the odds decrease when you approach age 40. The God versus science debate around IVF will continue unabated, but your life need not be on pause mode if you seek to complete your family.

The author of this article is associated with the Ghosh Dastidar Institute for Fertility Research (P) Ltd. GDIFR is a leader in the treatment of infertility and Infertility Research in India. It has gained international recognition as a centre of excellence. The GDIFR clinic in Kolkata, its IVF centre India has become a mecca for childless couples.