Q&A: In Vitro Fertilization
In Vitro Fertilization
Question
Hello
Is there any halakhic problem with in vitro fertilization between a couple who are not married (and with no intention at the moment of marrying in the future)?
Answer
Simply speaking, no, because there is no sexual intercourse here (and intercourse with an unmarried woman is also not such a severe prohibition). There are overviews online and you can read them.
Discussion on Answer
Of course, it’s clear to me that in truth this isn’t for nothing.
But it seems that wasting seed is some kind of social prohibition, that one should not act like Onan.
After all, it is permitted to emit semen in all kinds of non-fertile situations (the obvious one: pregnancy)
This is as far from “for nothing” as it gets.
I’m trying to understand your words, Rabbi. What do you mean by “and intercourse with an unmarried woman is also not such a severe prohibition”? What difference does it make whether it’s a severe or minor prohibition? If something is forbidden, then it’s simply forbidden, no??
What’s the question? True, if something is forbidden, it’s forbidden.
I think Aharon meant to ask why the Rabbi wrote that it isn’t a severe prohibition. The implication of the answer is that the Rabbi is kind of telling the questioner that basically you can sleep with her (it’s not such a severe prohibition) and there’s no need to do in vitro fertilization.
I meant exactly what I wrote.
From the standpoint of wasting seed, is there no problem?