In Vitrio Fertilisation (IVF) raises many ethical and moral issues for Orthodox Christians, as it does in many other religions. However, the general principles that are considered before a Christian Orthodox couple reaches a decision guided by their spiritual director, are “Married couples may use medical means to enhance conception of their common children, but the use of semen or ova other than that of the married couple who both take responsibility for their offspring is forbidden.” (1992 OCA Synod of Bishops’ Affirmations, “On Marriage, Family, Sexuality and the Sanctity of Life”—The Procreation of Children), and no zygote or embryo can be wilfully destroyed. Furthermore the IVF procedure raises questions that may, or do, go against tenets of Orthodox Christian faith. Such issues include that IVF excludes the conjugal act and should therefore not be considered as normal practice; in IVF generally involves fertilising a number of eggs and choosing the most viable embryos and discarding the rest is fraught with moral dangers – destroying unused embryos is strictly prohibited; the freezing of unutilised embryos may also be problematic since the frozen embryos are in danger of being destroyed.
