Choice, Infertility and Reproductive Rights

Let’s get this straight – a fertility blogger is participating in a movement celebrating the anniversary of the passage of Roe v. Wade 35 years ago?

Damn straight. And here is why Choice should matter to you.

Those same individuals who act under the banner of Pro-Life are not too cool about you creating new life using in vitro or other assisted reproductive techniques. Pro-Life proponents see the termination of embryos (no matter how early a stage) not used in a fertilization attempt as a “refined abortion.” Threats to Roe v. Wade and attempts to undermine a woman’s right to make informed decisions about her own reproductive health are a threat to you, fellow TTC’ers. Don’t see them as anything but.

Anytime there are misconceptions and misrepresentations of abortion or early terminations of pregnancies, you can bet that attacks on non-traditional reproductive techniques are not far behind.

Right now, you are able to store the embryos that are not used in your current fertility treatments to try again should your current cycle fail, or should you want to try to get pregnant again. But recent court cases could throw all of that into question. One such case, in which a divorced couple is arguing over who gets the embryos:

has ignited debate in America because of its potential implications for the legal status of the embryo. The ability to store embryos has created new legal questions over rights to these embryos in the event of subsequent disagreement between couples. There is currently no federal precedent…

Some fear that if the case ends up in the Federal Supreme court, then the increasing conservative Court may use it as a vehicle for reconsidering the legal status of the embryo. In the landmark Roe v Wade ruling, which effectively made abortion legal in America, the Court ruled that because the unborn do not have constitutional rights, the woman’s rights over her own body take precedent. If the unborn are considered to have a constitutional right to life, the legality of abortion will be thrown into question.

Feministing.com disagrees and thinks that

A law banning embryo disposal doesn’t threaten Roe. Without a woman’s involvement, these embryos are not viable. Viability is key to the Roe decision.

Ah, but I bet there are Pro-Lifers that would strongly disagree. My 12 years’ Catholic girl training taught me “life begins at conception” and there is no screwing around with it after that.

I truly feel for individuals who are trying to come to terms with their infertility in ways that are acceptable to their religions. Natural procreative technology is an attempt to do that. While its success rates are impressive, this technique will certainly not help anyone whose bodies (like mine) are missing some vital parts (like ovaries).

I want to emphasize here that Choice is not just about the “choice” to have an abortion. New books and anthologies like Choice: True Stories of Birth, Contraception, Infertility, Adoption, Single Parenthood, and Abortion use their very titles to make that clear. This blogger gives a great summary of where the 2008 presidential candidates stand on abortion , but that’s a lot easier to pinpoint than their stances on reproductive health in general. This upcoming article in the Nation entitled, “A Long Roe to Hoe” also spells out the need for Choice to move beyond the defense of abortion and on to the wider platform of women’s reproductive health:

While pro choice and antiabortion groups in the United States have argued about the minutiae of abortion practice, women’s economic security and reproductive health have been severely undermined by far-reaching changes in public policy. Given this broad assault on women, it is no longer ethically sound or politically wise to see abortion as the centerpiece of women’s struggle for freedom and equality. In the “change” election of 2008, it is critical that all candidates who claim to be pro choice define choice more broadly. They must make a commitment to fully restoring reproductive health and dignity to all American women regardless of their economic status. Likewise, a commitment should be made to a foreign policy that supports these services and rights for women in the developing world.

And that, my friends, is why today should be a day of celebration and this election year one of vigilance.

Happy Blog for Choice Day. Please click on the icon to read even more blogs about your right to choose.