Management of infertility today

Infertility represents a complex and growing problem of varying causes and characteristics that affect the lives of both men and women across countries and socioeconomic boundaries. Infertility has medical, psychological, sociocultural, and ethical implications. Examination of both etiopathogenetic factors and epidemiological data is fundamental to identifying the ethical responsibilities and the personal and collective efforts that will contribute to effectively combating the problem. Within this context, the Pontifical Academy for Life collaborated in a Workshop—held February 24, 2012, in Rome, Italy—involving the global international medical and scientific community, with the scope of providing an update on the current situation concerning the prevention and the management of infertility. Indeed, in recent decades, less attention has been paid to prevention, and the progress that has been made at the therapeutic level has not been elucidated sufficiently. The general tendency to resort to assisted reproductive technology as the principal or only solution to the question of infertility, along with the economic questions connected with it, has resulted in neglect of effective medical and surgical approaches that are successful, while respecting ethical values concerning human procreation. There is much to be done, especially regarding hormonal and surgical treatments, which may help to solve the problem. The Workshop accomplished its intended purpose of addressing the search for solutions to infertility, which is desired by so many couples. Often these couples are looking for therapeutic solutions that are more respectful of the ethical questions regarding procreation and the protection of human life. There are also couples seeking treatment involving the least possible number of technological approaches. The idea was to promote a deeper understanding that favors solutions that are being developed by medicine for research into infertility. The Workshop created a setting for scientific presentations that considered global prevention strategies and management for infertility without entering into the merit of artificial fertilization techniques, which have been addressed widely from both medical and ethical points of view in an abundance of scientific and popular literature. There are several elements that characterize the interventions given by the speakers: namely, the need to understand the causes and incidence of infertility in different parts of the world, possible treatments in female and male cases, and approaches that combine information and education regarding reproduction and advanced surgical therapies. The Pontifical Academy for Life takes this problem seriously. The sufferings of so many couples affected by infertility bring us to promote dialogue with the medical world to encourage scientific answers that respect the dignity of the human person and human procreation. Therefore, the scientific and medical research should favor lifestyles, interventions, and therapeutic responses with positive outcomes that can effectively prevent this condition. Scientists and doctors participated in the Workshop according to their internationally recognized competencies, and considered the common commitment to a more structured approach to the management of infertility. Not all of the approaches that were presented at the Workshop conform to the Church's Moral Teachings; freedom of science was guaranteed. The Pontifical Academy for Life renews its support for the values of ethical principles and strongly recognizes the value of medicine in service to couples and for life. We also encourage the scientific and civil community to take responsibility for an effective solution to the causes of infertility and to pursue new research into treatments. Dr Gamal Serour reminded the Workshop: “Some infertility may be prevented by adopting healthier behaviors and lifestyles and by reducing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The implementation of these effective preventive measures could largely reduce the occurrence of infertility and should be a major focus of scientific research.” We would like to express our gratitude to the speakers and to all those who contributed to this significant scientific presentation. We feel particularly honored and express profound gratitude to have been able to include the discourse that Pope Benedict XVI offered on the theme of the Workshop to the speakers, members of the Academy, and participants who were received in a private audience at the closure of the sessions.