Is IVF unnatural or against nature?

Answered in Robert Edwards's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

This is a common misconception, but I would argue that IVF is not against nature—it is a tool to assist nature. Infertility is a biological failure, and IVF simply provides a controlled environment for fertilization to occur. The process mirrors what happens naturally: sperm meets egg, and an embryo forms. The only difference is that it happens outside the body for a few days. We must not let fear of the unknown block progress. Throughout history, medicine has intervened in natural processes—think of antibiotics for infections or insulin for diabetes. IVF is no different. It is a compassionate response to human suffering. Critics often misunderstand the embryo's status, but I have always maintained that the embryo is not a person, but a potential person. Science without ethics is blind, but ethics without science is empty. IVF respects both.

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