What You Need to Know
ABOUT IVF
2
Introduction
IVF
• Causes of infertility
 Childless couples i.e. .man (male) and
wife (female)
 IVF has medical, legal, religious, ethical
and moral aspects
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
 Treatment of last recourse for infertility
3
Introduction
Male
Female
Other
• Abnormal sperm
production or function
• Problems with the
delivery of sperm
• Overexposure to certain
chemicals and toxins
• Damage related to cancer
and its treatment,
• Ovulation disorders
• Uterine or cervical
abnormalities
• Fallopian tube damage or
blockage
• Endometriosis
• Primary ovarian
insufficiency
• Pelvic adhesions
•
•
•
•
Thyroid problems
Cancer and its treatment
Certain medications
Other conditions
– absence of menstruation
(amenorrhea),
– sickle cell disease,
– kidney disease
– diabetes,
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
Causes of Infertility
4
Right to Life
5
Right to Life
The Concern
laboratory
 After fertilisation an embryo is formed: a
new human being
 This embryo is a person scientifically,
ethically & legally as per the Constitution of
Kenya
 The right to life of this person is guaranteed
by The Constitution of Kenya 2010 Article
26:1 & 2
•
•
26:1 Every person has a right to Life
26:2 The life of a person begins at Conception
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
 Human eggs and sperms are mixed in a
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Donor
Origins
(who am I)
Mixing egg &
sperm
(fertilization) to
form EMBROY
CONCEPTION
OCCURS HERE
Embryo
implanted into
the Womb
(mother or
Surrogate)
Social
Utility
9 months
pregnancy
Legal
Implication
Birth of
baby
 Age of consent?
 Informed consent?
 Relationship to the IVF child

parenteral responsibility
according to Children’s Act?
Commercialization?
Health Risks?
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
Harvesting
of egg &
sperm
7
Right to Life Concern
Origins
(who am I)
Mixing egg &
sperm
(fertilization) to
form EMBROY
CONCEPTION
OCCURS HERE
Embryo
implanted into
the Womb
(mother or
Surrogate)
Social
Utility
9 months
pregnancy
Legal
Implication
Birth of
baby





Storage and disposal?
Ownership?
Commercialisation?
Selective abortion?
Abuse in scientific research e.g.
designer babies, chimeras,
cloning etc..?
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
Harvesting
of egg &
sperm
8
Surrogacy
Origins
(who am I)
Mixing egg &
sperm
(fertilization) to
form EMBROY
CONCEPTION
OCCURS HERE
Embryo
implanted into
the Womb
(mother or
Surrogate)
Social
Utility





9 months
pregnancy
Legal
Implication
Birth of
baby
Abnormal babies
Divorce of commissioning parents
Death of commissioning parents
Medical complications-Surrogate
Mum
Multiple Pregnancies/Selective
abortion
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
Harvesting
of egg &
sperm
9
Children Rights
Origins
(who am I)
Mixing egg &
sperm
(fertilization) to
form EMBROY
CONCEPTION
OCCURS HERE
Embryo
implanted into
the Womb
(mother or
Surrogate)
Social
Utility
9 months
pregnancy
Legal
Implication
Birth of
baby
 Right to know the donor.; At what




age?
What of the under age child?
Responsibility of the donor to the
child?
Genetically transmitted diseases?
Risk of marrying close relatives if
parentage is not disclosed?
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
Harvesting
of egg &
sperm
10
Legal Implication
 Is it a right for every couple to
conceive their own baby?
 If yes, according to Article 43a of
constitution the government can be
forced to offer IVF services to all
infertile couples.
 That makes the IVF bill a money bill
(affect government spending)?
 The egg donor who suffers
complications can sue.
 The IVF generated child can sue to
know parent and get support.
 Ownership of excess embryos in
case of a completed family size,
death or divorce?
Origins
(who am I)
Mixing egg &
sperm
(fertilization) to
form EMBROY
CONCEPTION
OCCURS HERE
Embryo
implanted into
the Womb
(mother or
Surrogate)
Social
Utility
9 months
pregnancy
Legal
Implication
Birth of
baby
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
Harvesting
of egg &
sperm
11
Social utility
Origins
(who am I)
and practices
Mixing egg &
sperm
(fertilization) to
form EMBROY
CONCEPTION
OCCURS HERE
Embryo
implanted into
the Womb
(mother or
Surrogate)
Social
Utility
9 months
pregnancy
Legal
Implication
Birth of
baby
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
 IVF vs single men and women
 IVF vs same sex unions
 ( outlawed in Kenya)
 IVF vs religious and cultural beliefs
Harvesting
of egg &
sperm
12
Origins - Who am I?
 Death of commissioning parents
die before the birth of the baby?
 Can baby inherit anything from
commissioning parents estate?
 Congenital abnormalities
Origins
(who am I)
Mixing egg &
sperm
(fertilization) to
form EMBROY
CONCEPTION
OCCURS HERE
Embryo
implanted into
the Womb
(mother or
Surrogate)
Social
Utility
9 months
pregnancy
Legal
Implication
Birth of
baby
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
Harvesting
of egg &
sperm
13
• Age of consent
• Informed consent
• Relationship to the IVF child- parenteral
responsibility according to Children’s Act
• Commercialisation
• Health Risks
• IVF vs single men and women
• IVF vs same sex unions
(outlawed in Kenya)
• IVF vs religious and cultural
believes and practices.
Mixing egg &
sperm
(fertilization) to
form EMBROY
CONCEPTION
OCCURS HERE
Origins
(who am I)
Storage and disposal
Ownership
Commercialisation
Selective abortion
Abuse in scientific research e.g.
designer babies, chimeras, cloning etc
Embryo
implanted into
the Womb
(mother or
Surrogate)
Social
Utility
• Is it a right for every couple to conceive
their own baby?
• If yes, according to Article 43a of
constitution the government can be forced
to offer IVF services to all infertile couples.
• That makes the IVF bill a money bill (affect
government spending)
• The egg donor who suffers complications
can sue
• The IVF generated child can sue to know
parent and get support
• Ownership of excess embryos in case of a
completed family size, death or divorce
•
•
•
•
•
9 months
pregnancy
Legal
Implication
Birth of
baby
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Storage and disposal
Ownership
Commercialisation
Selective abortion
Abuse in scientific research eg
designer babies, chimeras, cloning etc
Selective abortion
Abnormal babies
Divorce of commissioning parents
Death of commissioning parents
Medical complication of surrogate mother
Right to know the donor.
At what age?
What of the under age child?
Responsibility of the donor to the child
Genetically transmitted diseases
Risk of marrying close relatives if parentage is not disclosed
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
• Death of commissioning parents die before
the birth of the baby?
• Can that baby inherit anything from
commissioning parents estate.
• Congenital abnormalities.
Harvesting
of egg &
sperm
14
Recommendations
first – it is comprehensive and
covers IVF.
 There are many alternatives to
IVF e.g. adoption and Naprotechnology that have fewer
legal, ethical, moral and religious
concerns.
 Need to consult public and
stakeholders.
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
 Health Bill should be introduced
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Kenya Christian Professionals Forum,
AEA Building, Next to Dental School, Valley
Road,
P O BOX 4223-00100,
GPO Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya Christian Professional Forum (KCPF)
Thank You!
Tel: (+254)718 715 079
Email: [email protected]/ [email protected]
www.kcpf.or.ke
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