In Covid, the Code, and the Place for Christian Ethics, we explored why the Nuremberg Code—written in the aftermath of the Holocaust—was almost entirely ignored during the COVID-19 outbreak, emphasizing the need for Christian ethics in experimental vaccines and medical inquiries. In IBM, AI, and the Future of the Human Race, we examined how IBM provided the Nazis with technology to facilitate genocide, and we considered the immense power artificial intelligence could wield in shaping humanity’s future. Finally, in From Darwin to Dachau: The Deadly Evolution of Eugenics, we traced the dark path of eugenics from Darwin’s Origin of Species to Hitler’s Final Solution, concluding:
"From natural biologists to pseudo-scientists, from social engineers to medical professionals, and finally to a demon-possessed dictator, the story is clear: Whenever humanity plays god with biology, even with good intentions, we could all lose."
When I first wrote that sentence, it originally read, “Whenever humanity plays god with biology, even with good intentions, we all lose.” I softened it by adding "could"—primarily because of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). It was difficult to make an absolute statement when so many infertile couples have been blessed with children through IVF and other reproductive technologies.
Yet, even with its noble intentions and life-giving results, IVF remains an example of humanity playing God with biology. History reminds us that some scientists and social engineers in the era following Darwin genuinely believed they were improving society. Who would argue that eliminating diseases like epilepsy, alcoholism, or cancer was an evil motive? But as the saying goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." If we are to maintain intellectual and moral integrity, we must consider not only the positive aspects of IVF but also the ethical concerns—particularly in relation to the value of human life.
Before addressing these concerns, let's outline the basics of this intricate procedure.
In a typical menstrual cycle, a woman’s ovaries release one egg per month. However, in IVF, a woman takes follicle-stimulating hormones before ovulation to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. On the day of retrieval, a doctor suctions the eggs from her ovaries while she is sedated. The number of eggs harvested varies, ranging from 1 to 20 per cycle, though only 70–85% of these will be mature and usable.
Next, the viable eggs are fertilized either by natural mixing with sperm or through a precise injection method. The sperm, having been “washed” to separate the healthiest, is then introduced to the eggs. Of these, 60–85% become fertilized embryos. However, only a fraction of these embryos will be implanted into the woman’s uterus, with the remainder stored or discarded.
To illustrate with simplified numbers: If 10 eggs are retrieved and 70% are successfully fertilized, seven embryos are created. Typically, one or two are implanted, leaving five or six unused. Therein lies the ethical dilemma: The fate of extra embryos.
For those who believe life begins at conception, the status of these leftover embryos presents a moral crisis. At just five days post-fertilization (the blastocyst stage), each embryo consists of up to 100 cells with unique DNA—a blueprint for human life. What happens to these embryos?
Although their fate depends on patient choices, clinic policies, and legal regulations, generally, they fall into one of three categories:
1. Immediate Discarding – Some embryos are deemed nonviable or unwanted and are destroyed.
2. Freezing for Future Use – Many are cryogenically preserved in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, awaiting a future implantation if desired.
3. Donation or Research – Some embryos are given to scientific research, effectively ending their chance at life.
Annually it is estimated that 4–9 million embryos are discarded immediately, while 0.5–2.25 million remain in limbo, and 5–10 million are frozen indefinitely. For those who hold a pro-life worldview, abortion is condemned at all levels because it ends innocent human life. While IVF is fundamentally different—it aims to create life, not destroy it—its unintended consequences remain troubling. The millions of embryos that are discarded or indefinitely frozen are lives that will never have the chance to develop.
These embryos, suspended in misty storage tanks, exist in a state of uncertainty—caught between medical progress and human indecision. As time passes, their numbers grow, filling laboratories with frozen potential, awaiting either life or oblivion. Whether we acknowledge it or not, IVF involves a form of eugenics at a cellular level. Unlike historical eugenics programs that sought to control population demographics, IVF still engages in selective reproduction:
- Weak or abnormal sperm are discarded.
- Only the healthiest eggs are used.
- Embryos deemed genetically “inferior” are often discarded or replaced with “better” ones.
While the goal of IVF is not to control humanity’s genetic future, the process inherently involves decisions about which embryos are worthy of life. As someone relatively new to the ethical debates surrounding IVF, I recognize that this is a complex issue with profound implications. It is not a question of condemning parents who turn to IVF in their desire for children, but of thoughtfully considering the moral dilemmas it presents.
Does IVF actually echo eugenics and how should Christians navigate the ethics of reproductive technology while upholding the sanctity of life? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
So, what do you think?
Micah Coate, President and Host of Salvation and Stuff
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