Catholic Patients and Reproductive Healthcare

Catholicism is the religion of 1.375 billion people worldwide. Adherents of the faith, regardless of the country in which they reside, are exposed to the same Church doctrines on reproductive healthcare, including contraception, abortion, and the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Even self-identified devout Catholics vary widely in their adherence to these teachings, with the majority of Catholics in the United States using some form of contraception other than natural family planning and a substantial percentage favoring abortion in some or all circumstances. The choices made by Catholics experiencing infertility may be influenced to greater or lesser degrees by Church prohibitions around conception outside of procreation. For Catholic patients who pursue IVF, there may be concerns about the creation and disposition of supernumerary embryos. These patients may also require additional psychoeducation and support around the decision to go against Church teachings to pursue ART. Not all Catholics experiencing infertility choose to pursue in vitro fertilization (IVF); for those who do not, the decision to eschew available treatment may serve as a reaffirmation of their faith and an opportunity for meaning making. For these patients, religiosity can serve as a critical source of support and aid in coping. This chapter reviews the role of Catholic doctrine in the reproductive health choices of adherents to the faith and suggests guidelines for infertility care providers interested in working with this population through a culturally responsive lens.