Artificial insemination

The introduction of semen into the vagina or cervix of a female by any

method other than sexual intercourse. The procedure is widely used
in animal breeding and is used in humans when a male is sterile or
impotent or when a couple suffers from unexplained infertility (when the
cause of infertility cannot be identified). Impregnation of a woman through
artificial insemination may also be used by women or men in same-sex
partnerships who wish to produce children of their own.

Artificial insemination can benefit couples or individuals with a

range of needs.

In the United States, 6 percent of women aged 15 to 44 years

are unable to conceive or maintain a pregnancy after one year
of unprotected sex.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest

that a woman should consider seeing a fertility doctor to
discuss treatment if she is:

 unable to conceive within one year of trying

 prone to irregular periods
 over 35 years of age and trying to conceive

Doctors also recommend fertility treatment if a woman has

two or more spontaneous miscarriages.

IUI can help in the following medical situations:

 IUI can help support a couple that produces healthy

sperm and eggs but is unable to have intercourse,
 possibly due to a medical condition, such as erectile
dysfunction.
 In women with cervical factor infertility, the cervix either
does not produce the mucus that helps sperm travel to
the womb, or the mucus contains a substance that kills
the sperm. Artificial insemination can help bypass this
problem.
 Endometriosis causes the cells from the womb lining
start to grow outside the womb, for example, in the
ovaries or the fallopian tubes. Artificial insemination can
be successful in mild to moderate cases of endometriosis.
Many women with endometriosis can conceive naturally.
 In rare cases, a woman may have an allergic reaction to
certain proteins in sperm or semen. The artificial
insemination can remove most of these before applying
the sperm.
 Some men are unable to produce enough sperm for
successful fertilization, or their sperm may not be
sufficiently motile. This means the sperm cannot move
towards the egg effectively.
 Certain medical treatments carry infertility as a risk, such
as radiation therapy.

Before the treatment, a man can freeze some of his sperm for
future use in artificial insemination.

In some couples, there is no clear reason for infertility, but the

doctor may recommend IUI regardless.
 What does the Bible say about
artificial insemination?
by Matt Slick
Artificial insemination is the process whereby sperm is artificially placed within a woman so as
to make her pregnant.  Generally, this process is used when the sperm count is not sufficient to
allow pregnancy or there is some physical or psychological problem involved in sexual
intercourse.  Even though this process is not explicitly described in scripture, we can still derive
biblical principles that apply to this subject.
God intended that pregnancy occur within the bond of marriage between a man and a woman --
who are married to each other.  God commissioned the human race in Genesis by the
proclamation that Adam and Eve were to multiply and replenish the earth.  Furthermore,
according to the Bible, pregnancy is to occur between the man and a woman who are married to
each other.  Sexual relations outside of the marriage relationship are either rape, adultery, or
fornication.  God condemns these as being morally wrong and thereby sinful.
If the married couple is having a problem getting pregnant and artificial insemination is
recommended by a doctor, then it is acceptable under the following conditions.

1. Only the sperm and egg of the married couple are involved.
2. Fertilized eggs are not intentionally lost or destroyed.

As long as both the egg and the sperm are from the same married couple, then I can see no
problem with this process.  After all, both the egg and the sperm belong to the married couple,
and there is no intrusion of seed from outside that marriage bond.  If the married couple accepts
the sperm from another man (a man outside of the marriage bond with that woman), then she is
inviting the intrusion of another man's seed into herself.  This is an adulterous occurrence.
In addition, if the process of artificial insemination involves the fertilization of many eggs with
only one being implanted in the womb of the mother, this is not acceptable since the other
fertilized eggs must then be discarded.  This is not an acceptable option for a Christian couple
since it risks destroying human life.
Christian marriage is a covenant between the husband and wife before God with people as
witnesses.  This covenant is taken seriously by the Lord.  It should also be taken seriously by the
couple.  God knows all situations and circumstances and is in complete control.  If a Christian
couple cannot get pregnant and if the only way the wife can get pregnant is through the donation
of sperm from a man outside of the marriage bond, then it is best to avoid that pregnancy. 
Otherwise, the couple is inviting into the woman's body the seed of another man -- which is
adultery.  If the couple desires to have children, they should adopt.  This prevention of pregnancy
could be a means by which the Lord arranges for couples to adopt, thereby, taking care of other
children.

Objections Answered
Some claim that using another man's sperm to impregnate a woman is not morally wrong
because there is no physical act of adultery involved and there is no intention of adultery.  Also,
if the husband agrees, then how could the impregnation be adulterous?
We must be very careful to not let situational ethics govern biblical principles.  God has ordained
that husband and wife, a married couple, be the bearers of children within that covenantal bond
of marriage.  Whether or not the physical act of adultery has occurred or not does not excuse the
fact that the sperm of another man has entered the body of a woman to whom he is not married.

Is artificial insemination a sin to Christians?”

The Bible is silent on artificial insemination since that technology wasn’t available in
those days. The closest analogy in the Old Testament before the Law was instituted was
a man may marry another to start a family through her.

In Gen. 16:1–2, Sarai said this to Abram, “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no
children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The
Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can
build a family through her.” This was an acceptable custom in those days. God didn’t
condemn this practice in the Old Testament. There are New Testament saints as
Zechariah and Elizabeth who had no children remained faithful to each other without
marrying another woman.

As an extrapolation, one can make an argument that artificial insemination is similar to

having a family instead of through another woman, but through artificial insemination.

This is a matter of personal conscious between a husband and wife. Whether one
chooses to adopt a child, live without a child, or use some technological means would
be a personal choice as long as it doesn’t violate the marital bonds between a man and
woman.

SUMMARY: The Scripture is silent on the use of technology as long as it is not misused
in defaming the image and likeness of God.