Infertility

Infertility is the inability to naturally conceive a child or the inability to carry a pregnancy to term. There are many reasons why a couple may not be able to conceive, or may not be able to conceive without medical assistance.

Ethics

There are many ethical issues associated with infertility and its treatment.

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• High-cost treatments are out of financial reach for some couples.
• Debate over whether health insurance companies should be forced to cover infertility treatment.
• The legal status of embryos fertilized in vitro and not transfered in vivo.
• Pro-life opposition to the destruction of embryos not transfered in vivo.
• IVF and other fertility treatments have resulted in an increase in multiple births, provoking ethical analysis because of the link between multiple pregnancies, premature birth, and a host of health problems.
• Religious leaders' instructions on fertility treatments.