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ashthom
ashthomWednesday, December 21, 2011 at 11:59:00 PM EST
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“Personhood” and Fertility Treatments Demystified
This is the second post in a three-part series on some of the most contentious aspects of proposed “personhood” laws. I’ll be focusing on the impact that these measures would have on birth control, in vitro fertilization and medical emergencies during pregnancy.
The Downfall of “personhood” – BC, IVF and medical emergencies during pregnancy
There is a national movement to adopt state law or amend state constitutions to define a person as a fertilized egg. This movement is often referred to simply as “personhood.” This month Mississippians voted on a “personhood” ballot initiative, that was defeated 58-42. The most contentious issues on the Mississippi “personhood” campaign related to the laws impact on birth control, in vitro fertilization, and medical emergencies during pregnancy. Below is an in depth analysis of “personhood” in Mississippi and birth control.
Would a “personhood” law ban fertility treatments?
IVF, intro vitro fertilization, is one treatment for infertility. During IVF an egg is removed from a women’s body, and mixed with sperm in a fluid medium. In this medium the egg is fertilized by a sperm and then begins to divide and grow, becoming an embryo. The embryo is then placed back into the women’s body, into her uterus, where it will further grow and develop.
If you are more a visual learner, here is a video of the IVF procedure.
During IVF some embryos are frozen for use later. Other embryos are disposed of because they stop growing and multiplying and are no longer viable. Anti-choice groups, including the Catholic Church, strongly oppose IVF because the procedure disposes of human embryos or manipulates them, as stated above.
IVF was an issue many Mississippi voters I talked to were concerned about. I talked to several people who themselves or family members used IVF to become pregnant. The voters were aware that the path to parenthood can be complicated and difficult, and that without IVF many families would be unable to have children.
“Personhood” further demonstrates the breadth of reproductive justice
The “personhood” campaigns across the country are further demonstrating the breadth of issues addressed in the reproductive justice framework. Reproductive rights and justice commonly is narrowed to the right of a woman to access an abortion. Reproductive justice is about so much more! It is about women and families having the resources and information enabling them to make decisions about whether or when they want to become parents. This includesaccess to birth control, abortion AND fertility treatment (and much more).
While the anti-choice movement has better championed messaging on families, it is actually reproductive justice advocates that fight for a culture and policies that allow people to have the family of their choosing – from access to IVF all the way to marriage equality. By overreaching on reproductive rights and banning fertility treatments the anti-choice movement shows its true colors. The movement sets unrealistic expectations of people, contributes to a sex negative culture, and disapproves of diverse family structures.
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