A BETTER WAY FOR MALTESE PARENTS: NAPROTECHNOLOGY OVER IVF 

by Anon MD

Many couples endure the sorrow of infertility. We should stand with them in compassion but urge paths that fully respect human dignity. 

Abortion and IVF both demand the involuntary sacrifice of children. They require that the innocent be set aside to satisfy the desires of those who should be their greatest protectors, their parents. In IVF, multiple embryos are created in the laboratory. Not all survive. Many are graded by quality, screened for imperfections and discarded. This trial-and-error approach treats embryonic human persons as products rather than gifts from God. Even those who seek an “ethical” form of IVF must confront this reality. Pro-lifers should pause before supporting the creation of human beings in laboratories. 

The 2012 Pastoral Letter Celebrating Human Life, signed by Archbishop Paul Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech, is clear. It notes that IVF methods “at first glance seem to be at the service of life” yet “are in fact, actually a threat to human life.” Such practices involve “the meditated and direct destruction of innocent human life.” 

There is a better way. NaProTechnology offers a moral and effective alternative. It works with a woman’s natural cycle through the Creighton Model Fertility Care System. Doctors identify and treat underlying causes of infertility (for example, hormonal imbalances, endometriosis, and polycystic ovarian syndrome) rather than bypassing them. Conception occurs through the loving act of marriage. 

Studies show strong results. In a large cohort of over 1,000 infertile couples, more than 60 per cent achieved pregnancy within 24 months, rising to nearly 70 per cent by 36 months. An Irish study reported a life-table live birth rate of 52.8 per cent after two years. A Canadian study reached 66 per cent. For conditions such as PCOS, success can exceed 80 per cent. These rates often match or surpass IVF outcomes without the ethical costs. 

In 2012, the Gozo Diocese welcomed NaProTechnology services at the Gozo General Hospital. The Diocesan Presbyterial Council praised this natural approach that aids couples while upholding Church teaching. Local efforts proved science can serve life without replacing the conjugal act. 

NaProTechnology restores health, supports couples through charting and targeted care, and avoids the high costs and moral pitfalls of IVF. It fully aligns with Humanae Vitae and the Church’s vision of responsible parenthood.

IVF foments a “culture of waste” that includes discarded embryos. Malta’s rapidly declining birth rate challenges us. The solution lies not in compromising dignity but in embracing technologies that honour it. 

Couples facing infertility deserve prayers, support and practical help. Our hospitals and clinics should promote NaProTechnology training. Trained professionals offer real hope without moral compromise.

Let us choose life in its fullness. By backing NaProTechnology Technology, Maltese families can welcome children as true gifts, begotten in love, not made in a lab. In this way, we honour God, protect the vulnerable and strengthen a culture that values every human person from conception.