Infertility, officially defined as the inability to conceive a child after one year of trying, is a deeply painful experience for married couples. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 9% of men and 11% of women of reproductive age in the United States have experienced fertility problems. Studies suggest that after one year of trying to achieve pregnancy, 12% to 15% of couples are unable to conceive, and after 2 years, 10% of couples still have not had a live-born baby.
The desire for children is natural and God-given - "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:28). When couples are unable to conceive, the sense of loss is profound and can affect every aspect of their lives. For Catholic couples, infertility can be particularly challenging because of the pressure they may feel from family, friends, and even their Catholic faith community to start a family. When they turn to the medical community for solutions, they may be pushed toward options that are morally problematic and detrimental to marriage, family and society.
The purpose of this web page is to provide each Catholic married couple who is struggling with infertility with choices that offer real hope, are morally acceptable and contribute to the well-being of married couples, the Catholic faith community and society as a whole.
NaProTECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology) is a women’s health science that monitors and maintains a woman’s reproductive and gynecological health. It provides medical and surgical treatments that cooperate completely with the reproductive system.
Unlike common suppressive or destructive approaches, NaProTECHNOLOGY works cooperatively with the procreative and gynecologic systems. When these systems function abnormally, NaProTECHNOLOGY identifies the problems and cooperates with the menstrual and fertility cycles that correct the condition, maintain the human ecology, and sustain the procreative potential. NaPro also seeks to identify and effectively treat male infertility to improve the combined fertility of the couple.
NaProTechnology is a specific form of Restorative ReproductiveMedicine which is defined as any scientific approach to reproductive medicine that seeks to cooperate with or restore the normal physiology and anatomy of the human reproductive system. It does not employ methods that are inherently suppressive, circumventive or destructive. This approach respects the integrity of the human person and provides access to reproductive health care that respects the right of married couples to understand and cooperatively manage their own fertility, with appropriate medical assistance.
Gianna Centers are dedicated to providing general gynecologic care, natural family planning education and infertility services which honor the sanctity of each human life, the dignity of women and the sacramental integrity of marriage.
Infertility is a symptom of underlying disease. The diseases that cause infertility have a “two-pronged” effect. They not only hinder the functioning of fertility, but they also cause both short and long-term health problems.
The persistent unwillingness to address infertility problems from this perspective is one of the major flaws in the current approach to the treatment of infertility.
Until 1978, most of the effort in medicine in evaluating and treating women with infertility was placed in trying to identify and treat the underlying causes. In 1978, in vitro fertilization produced a paradigm shift. It led to a “skipping over” the causes and this continues up to the present time to be the foundational management approach. In essence, this is a symptomatic or Band-Aid approach to treatment, not one that gets to the root causes (Source: Naprotechnology.com).
The Causes of Infertility
While there are many factors that affect the ability of couples to conceive and bear children, here are some of the most common causes of infertility:
Ovarian dysfunction: This means that the ovaries are producing lower amounts of their hormones and ineffective eggs.
Endometriosis: Cells from the lining of the womb are now mistakenly occurring in the pelvis outside of the womb, causing the immune system to attack these cells and those inside the womb. This can cause pain, scarring and difficulty achieving a pregnancy.
Polycystic ovarian disease: Numerous small cysts are present on the ovary, which impair its function and cause too many testosterone-like hormones to be produced.
Low sperm production: This is now fairly easily countered by helping the woman’s body to function at peak performance and by nutritional, medicinal and lifestyle changes for her husband. We are still less likely to be successful, however, if the sperm count is zero, but this is a rare occurrence.
Damaged fallopian tubes: This may be the result of previous infection or of endometriosis. Several new studies reveal that this is much more successfully treated by RRM than IVF, and it is much less expensive and safer for the baby to do so.
Risk Factors for Infertility
According to the Mayo Clinic, many of the risk factors for both male and female infertility are the same. They include:
Age. Women's fertility gradually declines with age, especially in the mid-30s, and it drops rapidly after age 37. Infertility in older women is likely due to the lower number and quality of eggs, and can also be due to health problems that affect fertility. Men over age 40 may be less fertile than younger men.
Tobacco use. Smoking tobacco or marijuana by either partner may reduce the likelihood of pregnancy. Smoking also reduces the possible effectiveness of fertility treatment. Miscarriages are more frequent in women who smoke. Smoking can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction and a low sperm count in men.
Alcohol use. For women, there's no safe level of alcohol use during conception or pregnancy. Alcohol use may contribute to infertility. For men, heavy alcohol use can decrease sperm count and motility.
Being overweight. Among American women, an inactive lifestyle and being overweight may increase the risk of infertility. For men, sperm count also may be affected by being overweight.
Being underweight. Women at risk of fertility problems include those with eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, and those who follow a very low-calorie or restrictive diet.
Exercise issues. A lack of exercise contributes to obesity, which increases the risk of infertility. Less often, ovulation problems may be associated with frequent strenuous, intense exercise in women who are not overweight.
The Church, with sincere compassion and empathy for couples struggling with infertility, offers guidance and hope through her teachings on how to understand and approach infertility in a way that reverences and protects the dignity of the human person and respects God's divine plan for married love.
Decision-making is an important aspect of marital communication. All major family life decisions with moral implications must be made together as a couple with full awareness of the couples' responsiblity to each other, their Catholic faith community, society and ultimately to God. The following resources will assist Catholic married couples to make the best decisions possible for the future of their family.
Church Teaching on Fertility Issues
Books
Articles
National Infertility Awareness Week, Reprint of Monitor Article
https://www.foryourmarriage.org/blogs/reality-vs-infertility/https://www.foryourmarriage.org/addressing-infertility-with-kindness-and-compassion/
https://www.foryourmarriage.org/the-blessing-of-unanswered-prayers-an-adoption-story/
https://www.foryourmarriage.org/blogs/chapter-eight-encountering-brokenness/
https://www.foryourmarriage.org/hope-for-married-couples-who-want-to-have-a-child/
Scholarly Articles
Videos
Facing Infertility: A Catholic Approach with Jean Dimech-Juchniewicz
Catholic Teaching on IVF and Contraception Explained – Fr. Mike Schmitz
Other Resources
Made for Love, Episode 7: Love in Adoption (Podcast)
Made for Love, Episode 9: Love that is Fruitful in Infertility (Podcast)
Organic Conceptions - "We support you with research-based insights and strategies that promote a positive mindset. This emotional shift better equips you to manage challenges that can impact your body’s natural ability to conceive. We help you reclaim your life from the stress and anxiety of infertility without leaving your dream of parenthood behind."
Springs in the Desert - This Catholic ministry is devoted to helping women and married couples struggling with infertility.
While infertility is heartbreaking, the inability to carry a viable pregnancy to live birth is a deeply painful experience for many couples as well. Miscarriage is the term healthcare providers use to describe the loss of pregnancy from natural causes up to the 20th week of pregnancy; stillbirth is the term for pregnancy loss once the 20th week has been reached.
Doctors who practice Naprotechnology (Natural Procreative Technology) will seek to determine the root cause of pregnancy loss.Though about 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage, the loss of a child to miscarriage should not be considered normal. Naprotechnology physicians believe that even one miscarriage warrents an evaluation. (READ MORE about symptoms, causes, risk factors and prevention of pregnancy loss.)
According to Catholic teaching, “Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2319). Once a child is conceived it is fully human and possesses a soul; the parents of the child are true parents, mother and father like any other, no matter how early a miscarrage takes place.
The Catholic Church offers love and support for any grieving parent regardless of the circumstances. If you are part of a Catholic faith community you have access to help. While some parishes have formal ministries to help grieving moms or parents who've experienced miscarriage or stillbirth such as the Elizabeth Ministry, there is always a couple or mom who has been through their own pregnancy loss who will gladly walk with you and offer hope and consolation - all you need to do is ask.
Though no one is really prepared to face a miscarriage, we offer the following list of Catholic-approved resources and information to assist with the miscarriage process and the aftermath of pregnancy loss:
Heaven's Gain Ministries - Provides for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of families experiencing pregnancy loss before, during and after delivery of their precious baby.
CatholicMiscarriageSupport.com - Practical and spiritual support for Catholics who have lost a child to miscarriage. Topics include medical management, surgical management, caring for your baby's body, burial and names, Church teaching, prayers and liturgy, moving forward.
The Apostolate of Hannahs Tears- Prayer, support and comfort to the brokenhearted who suffer the pains of infertility at any stage of life, difficult pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, the loss of a child and the adoption process.
Your Guide to Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss - Hope and Healing When You're No Longer Expecting; Kate White, MD; OB-GYN and Miscarriage Survivor