Assisted Reproductive Technologies and World Religions: Implications for Couples Therapy

Increasing numbers of couples struggle with infertility. Couples debating whether or not to utilize assisted reproductive technologies (ART) face many difficult decisions. These decisions can be influenced by religious values and ideologies. The purpose of this article is threefold: to (a) review the ethical choices that couples face when deciding whether or not to use ART; (b) review the stated ideologies of Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam in regards to ART; and (c) discuss how knowledge of ethical choices and religious ideologies concerning ART can assist marriage and family therapists who work with couples facing infidelity.