Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis refers to when either of the genetic parents has a known genetic abnormality. Therefore testing is performed on the embryo to determine if it has the genetic defect (Dayal, 2018).
The most pressing concern in surrogacy is the question of the right of the unborn to be gestated by the biological parent. Surrogacy means one takes the place of another, which in this case is in carrying a pregnancy. Surrogacy also raises the issue of the commodification of women bodies and the likelihood of exploitation of poor women who are keen on earning money.
Snowflake Babies are children that result from a couple choosing to donate a frozen embryo (conceived through in vitro fertilization) to another couple, however, this is slowed down by the absence of a regulating law in this new area.
Artificial Insemination can be described as the introduction of sperm into a female’s cervix with the intent of achieving pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse.
Natural Family Planning is the spacing of births where the woman monitors different fertility signals to find out when she is most susceptible to getting pregnant.
The primary ovulation symptoms are; Basal Body Temperature, Cervix Activity and Cervical Mucus. The secondary ovulation symptoms are; mittelschmerz, spotting, swollen vagina or vulva, increased libido, breast tenderness, general bloating and ferning.
The various protocols and methods available today are; Creighton model (Napro Technology), couple to couple, symptom-thermal method, billings method and family of the Americas, based on Billings.
NFP is healthier than contraception because of natural selection wherein the female body is made in a way that allows only the most potent sperm to fertilize and implant itself, thus increasing the chances of conception significantly.
As a means, NFP is respectful of human nature and the need for marital intimacy, while also recognizing that it is the union of body and soul. As an end, however, the spacing of births is based on well-grounded reasons.
In summary, Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis is among the available options for avoiding the high risk of having children affected with genetic disease thus goes a long way in reducing the number of pregnancy terminations due to unfavourable prenatal diagnosis. The church accepts Artificial Insemination; however, it must meet a set of conditions. That is the couple must be married, the husband’s sperm must be ethically collected, conception must take place in the woman’s infundibulum and finally that the resulting embryo is not subjected to risk or harm.