Religion and Infertility

Hi,
I'm catholic and lately I have been struggling a bit with whether I am doing the right thing by going ahead and having the IUI and possibly IVF if it has to come to that.... Anyone out there ever feel this way? Am I being to hard on myself?  

[shayla1]

I'm Catholic too and I know that our religion is apparently ok with IUI but not IVF.  HOWEVER, if I had to do IVF to get pregnant..I would.  I am prego from IUI.  I truly believe that our God is a loving God and understands that some people just cant get pregnant the natural way...I believe that he will love us the same and love our IVF child the same...he also knows that we are truly dedicated parents to go through all of this in order to have a child.
My mom is ULTRA Catholic...could almost be a nun:)  When I started fertility treatments I talked to her about how Catholics are against lots of this and she then told me all that I wrote above...that God is compassionate and that he would understand.

[tina1111]

I'm Catholic, too. And, I believe that God helps those who help themselves. He gives us the knowledge and if we use it for good, How can that be wrong?

[dixiegal1]

I'm not catholic, but was raised in baptist church all my life.  I believe god is a loving god and that he wouldn't have given man the knowledge if it wasn't supposed to help.   maybe i'm interpreting it  the way i need it to be but i strongly believe that. We all face some type of trials in our life...  some more than others...  infertility is one of ours.  
I just finished my first round of ivf and got a bfp!  The first thing i said is " thank you god!!!!!!"  

GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND I'LL KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYERS

[lola4]

Thank you both for your responses.
Just reading what you had to say makes me feel much better!

[wishing4#2]

I went through all the same emotions! I said i wouldn't do IVF because of all the ethical issues surrounding it. But i prayed about it, and i agree I think God understands our need to have children and has given us these resources as long as we use them responsibly! I just finished IVF round one. Am pregnant but not sure if it will last. . . so now i am praying even harder.  All of the infertility stuff is so hard, but I think God understands and has given us ways to help ourselves!

[snowsseven]

Just wanted to share something with you that has helped me.  I am Lutheran, converted from Catholisism.  My husband and I have had many discussions regarding when a person gets their soul - according to him it is at fertilization.  Our only chances of conceiving is through IVF / ICSI - so our problem is if all of our eggs fertilize - then they have souls.  BUT - we/you can donate fertilized eggs to other couples that can't get pregnant.  That has helped me cope with that issue of discarding unneeded embryos and the negative thoughts surrounding that.  

I believe God gave us the intelligence to "scientifically" help create babies and that if we NEED it, we can use it.  Hope that helps ease your mind.  

Good Luck!

[tina1111]

Very nice :) I always wondered about the "extra" embryos. That is a terrific thing to do.

[jlb14]

I've also been given the advice from other strict catholics that anything that is supporting procreation is a good thing and something that God would want. It is when you are doing the reverse (abortion) that goes against God.

[mstrex]

We are trying to find embryos to adopt. If any one knows of some one or has any frozen. Would you consider helping make our dream come true. Please help>>>>>>>>>>>

[SDScientist]

I admire how you all can keep such a strong faith.  I wish I could say the same thing.  I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic schools all the way through college and up until about a year ago attended church regularly, but all of this infertility just did weakened my faith to almost nonexistent.  My husband is baptist and has a very strong faith, especially when it comes to all this.  We have male factor and I always ask him how he is it he that he is not mad at God, b/c I sure was/am.  
When it comes to the science of getting pregnant, IUI and IVF, meds, etc...if you believe that God created man than with that comes knowledge and skill and progress and it would be a terrible thing to waste.  I don't want to turn this into a religious debate, just wanted to say that I admire you all for being so strong and committed to your faith.  

I am with snowsseven, once we finally have a baby, DH and I have decided to donate any embryos we have left.

[carina1]

SDScientist-- I just wanted you to know that I understand how you feel.  I, too, was raised Catholic and went to Catholic schools all my life.  I would be lieing if I said that this journey with infertility hasn't weakened my faith.  I have tried SO hard to stay in faith-- certainly the love and support I have received from so many people (including this forum!) reminds me that there are blessings everywhere.  My dh has faith that somehow this is all happening for a reason and it's all part of God's plan for us-- he, too, is devastated with our negative result yesterday.  I'd like to believe that and hope that in time the smoke will clear and I'll have a better understanding of why this is happening to us.  I wish us both luck as we try to hold on to faith.  

Lola4--  I never thought I'd go down the road of IVF, but when infertility became part of my journey, I knew I had to try what I could.  When I started going to the dr's, I was amazed at their knowledge, their commitment, their dedication to helping people create families.  I saw the hand of God in all of that almost immediately.  Since then, I have never doubted that God has inspired and moved these people to help those on this journey.  As you read above, my faith has certainly taken a blow with all of this, but I still believe that God would look fondly upon responsible fertility treatment.  Good Luck to you!