Infertility is common. According to the CDC, 3.4% (about 1 in 7) women have difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy. Infertility is the inability to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. In contrast, miscarriage is the spontaneous, unexpected loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week of gestation, commonly occurring in the first trimester. It often involves vaginal bleeding and cramping, sometimes referred to medically as a “spontaneous abortion” or early pregnancy loss.

There are many known causes of infertility that affect both men and women. For many couples, infertility can be an isolating, deeply personal, and difficult cross to bear.

There are also many morally acceptable approaches to managing infertility that are approved by the Catholic Church. These include lifestyle changes, natural family planning, adoption or foster care, and NaPro Technology. Please click the link below to view a pamphlet for additional information.

View the infertility pamphlet

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most common forms of assisted reproductive technology, a medical procedure used to help individuals or couples achieve pregnancy. The term “in vitro” means “in glass.” During IVF, a woman’s ovaries are typically stimulated to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory setting. The resulting embryos are monitored, and one or more may be transferred into the women’s uterus with the goal of achieving a successful pregnancy. Not all transferred embryos implant or develop to term. Additional embryos that are created may be frozen for future use, discarded, or otherwise not used. IVF can involve a couple’s own egg and sperm, or donor gametes in some cases.

Although IVF can help bring about new life, several factors lead the Catholic Church to deem it as morally unacceptable. One reason is that the process often results in the loss of embryonic human life or the freezing of embryos for future use. While freezing does not directly end a life, it places these embryos in a suspended state, raising serious concerns about their dignity and violations of the respect owed to human life. Additionally, the process of obtaining sperm may involve actions that the Church considers morally problematic, such as masturbation.

The Church also teaches that marriage is a lifelong, exclusive union between a man and a woman, reflecting God’s faithful love. Within this union, sexual intimacy has both a unitive purpose to express love between spouses and a procreative purpose with the openness to new life. IVF separates conception from this marital act, instead relying on technological means. It can also involve third parties—such as donors or surrogates—which introduces others into the process of conception in a way that the Church believes undermines the exclusivity of marriage.

Furthermore, the Church emphasizes that every human being is created in God’s image and possesses inherent dignity. For this reason, human life should never be treated as a product or commodity. It is natural and good to desire children, and they are considered a profound blessing. At the same time, the Church teaches that a child is a gift, not something to which one is entitled. While the desire for a family is deeply meaningful, it does not justify methods that conflict with the moral principles described above.

Please click the following links for additional information:

• Humanae Vitae — Vatican
• A Rich New Translation of Humanae Vitae

Yes. The Catholic Church does support a number of medical approaches to infertility—provided they respect the dignity of the couple and keep conception connected to marital intercourse.

Acceptable treatments are those that assist the natural act of conception rather than replace it. In other words, they aim to address underlying health issues so that pregnancy can occur through the couple’s own marital relationship.

Some examples include:

• Treating underlying medical conditions such as hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, endometriosis, or infections
• Surgical interventions to correct physical problems (for example, blocked fallopian tubes or varicoceles)
• Lifestyle changes that improve fertility, such as nutrition, stress management, or timing of intercourse
• Natural family planning (NFP) methods to better understand and work with a woman’s cycle
• NaPro Technology, which focuses on identifying and treating the root causes of infertility while supporting natural conception

These approaches are considered morally acceptable because they cooperate with the body’s natural processes and uphold both the unitive and procreative aspects of marriage.

In addition to medical treatments, some couples also consider adoption or foster care as meaningful ways to grow their family while offering love and care to children in need. Please click the link below to view a pamphlet for additional information.

View the infertility pamphlet

Even after pursuing the above aforementioned methods, some couples may continue to experience infertility. This can be a deeply painful burden, and the sense of loss can be overwhelming. It is important to remember that no couple faces this alone. God remains present with them, and the Church seeks to accompany and support them with compassion and care. As Pope John Paul II once reassured couples who are unable to have children, they are no less loved by God, and their love for one another remains meaningful and fruitful when it is open to others. By reflecting on the wounds of the Risen Christ, we are reminded that even life’s most difficult trials can become places where God reveals the depth of His love. In this hope, couples can find strength and peace, trusting that God remains the source of joy even in the midst of hardship.

For more information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on infertility, visit usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning/infertility.

Absolutely. Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God and is deeply loved by Him. Each person is also worthy of the love and respect of others. For this reason, the Church affirms the goodness and value of every child, including those conceived through IVF.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a natural way for women to observe and track signs of fertility, helping couples identify the most optimal times for intercourse to achieve a pregnancy. This method is approved and encouraged by the Catholic Church and known to have good success rates if done correctly.

There are many different NFP methods, including by not limited to the Creighton Model, Marquette Method, and the Boston Cross Check Method. There are many ways to naturally track ovulation, including cervical mucus methods, sympto-thermal methods, and sympto-hormonal methods. Cervical mucus methods include identifying the normal, healthy cervical mucus which indicates the days that sexual intercourse can result in pregnancy. Sympto-Thermal methods include tracking of the basal body temperature, which is the body’s temperature right after waking up, before eating or drinking any food, as well as before any physical activity. Sympto-Hormonal methods include self-detection of reproductive hormones in urine with the assistance of ovulation predictor kits. Ovulation predictor kits include urine test strips that detect for an increase in a hormone that signals that ovulation is about to occur, again indicating the most optimal time for intercourse to achieve a pregnancy. Our Chaldean Catholic diocese offers one-on-one NPF guidance via trained NFP coaches. If you are interested in learning more, please contact the Office of Life for more information.

Prenatal testing is a set of medical tests that are done during pregnancy to check on the health and development of the baby before birth. Through getting these tests done, information can be provided regarding the baby’s growth and development, the risk or presence of genetic conditions, any birth defects or abnormalities present, as well as the health of the mother and placenta. Prenatal testing can also help parents and the doctor prepare for the birth of your baby, as well as help offer a sense of awareness of what to expect. Part of preparing for the birth of your baby could also include connecting with other parents in support groups, especially if you receive a prenatal diagnosis.

Prenatal testing is generally encouraged in modern medicine for its diagnostic and planning value. However, there is certainly no moral obligation to participate in prenatal testing. If prenatal testing is pursued with the intention of aborting a child should a defect be found, the act itself becomes gravely immoral. Parents should not pursue prenatal testing with the intention of terminating a child based upon the results found. Prenatal testing that is intended to provide diagnostic information for the purpose of treating your child in the womb is a morally acceptable use of this medical tool. As parents seeking peace of mind or wishing to prepare for medical care if your child is sick, you may certainly choose to pursue prenatal testing ethically.

Please click the link below to view a pamphlet for additional information.

View the prenatal testing pamphlet

ECRC has both a support group for those experiencing infertility as well as a support group for those who have experienced miscarriage/infant loss.

The infertility support group is called Waiting in Hope. They have an anonymous form that you can fill out here, that provides the support group with more information on how they can best support you. They also have a telegram chat that you can join to ask questions, get support, and pray for one another.

Additionally, they offer a miscarriage/infant loss support group called Little Saints Healing Ministry. This group is for women and spouses who are suffering from miscarriage or infant loss. They meet monthly for prayer and discussion as well as having a telegram chat for constant contact and support with one another. You can join the telegram chat at this link. They also have an anonymous form that you can fill out here, that provides the support group with more information on how they can best support you.

To find a pro-life OBGYN, you can find a provider here as well as their office information. To find a pro-life pediatrician, visit this link and follow the prompts to find a provider in your area.

Endometriosis is a medical condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus—often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other areas within the pelvis. These growths often can lead to inflammation, pain, and sometimes scar tissue. Common symptoms can include pelvic pain, heavy or irregular periods, pain during intercourse, and, in some cases, difficulty becoming pregnant. The severity of symptoms can vary widely from person to person.

From a Catholic perspective, treatments are considered morally acceptable when they aim to heal the body or address the underlying condition, rather than suppressing fertility or separating procreation from the marital act.

Some ethical options include:

• Medications that treat underlying issues: certain medications may be used to reduce inflammation or regulate hormones in a way that supports overall reproductive health (as long as they are not used with the intent to prevent pregnancy).
• Surgical treatment: procedures that remove or reduce endometrial lesions—such as excision surgery—can help restore normal function and relieve pain while respecting the integrity of the body.
• NaPro Technology: this approach works with a woman’s natural cycle to identify hormonal imbalances and other root causes, offering targeted treatments that support healing and fertility. https://www.fertilitycare.org/naprotechnology/
• Fertility awareness-based methods: tracking the menstrual cycle can help guide treatment and better understand how the condition affects the body.

Some common treatments—such as certain hormonal contraceptives—are often prescribed to manage symptoms by suppressing ovulation. In Catholic moral teaching, these may be permissible if they are being used to treat a medical condition (like endometriosis) and not with the intention of preventing pregnancy. This is sometimes referred to as the principle of double effect. It’s usually best to discuss these situations with a knowledgeable physician and, if helpful, a trusted priest or spiritual advisor.