Ovarian transplants, morally OK or not?

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This thread discusses the recent birth of a child from a woman who had an ovarian transplant from her twin sister. Read it then return here.

The question: Are ovarian transplants morally acceptable?

I offer two countervailing arguments. In all honesty, I have no preference for either. I bring this up because I am truly stumped by this.

Argument in favor: This procedure involves a surgical intervention in the woman to correct a deformity that prevents her from conceiving children through normal, vaginal intercourse. Like the correction of blocked fallopian tubes, or even the outright BYPASS of blocked fallopian tubes that still allows a woman to conceive naturally, the procedure maintains the integrity within the married couple of the threefold purposes of sexuality, procreative, unitive and pleasure. Looking at the situation in this fashion, it appears that the procedure is morally licit.

Argument against: One could argue that the procedure still violates the procreative component of sexuality, in that the woman is carrying the child of genetic union of her husband’s sperm and her donor’s egg, thereby rendering her role to one that is little removed from a form of surrogate motherhood. This argument revolves around the idea that part of the procreative wonder of sexuality is intimately tied into the unique genetic packages each parent brings to the conjugal act; that in the individual uniqueness each parent brings and then is united in the fertilization of the egg and the creation of new life (in creating a unique combination of genetic material) there is a particular interaction that takes place, *peculiar to that couple *that cannot be substituted through the replacement of genetic material native to the woman with material native to another woman. The child, in a sense, becomes offspring of the father and the donor woman, not the man’s wife.

Adultery? Surrogate motherhood? A correction of a simple organic problem? Let’s have some debate on this one. Frankly, my head spins when I consider this.
 
I have no idea what the Magisterium will decide on this matter or that of adopting embryos for implantation, either. Fr. Richard Newhaus talked about the latter issue last night on The World Over on EWTN. He said he will wait to hear what the ruling on it is before he teaches it is or isn’t licit, and I agree with him.

However, I have my own feelings/opinions on these issues. I agree with the pro proposition more than the con. I can see how the Church could go either way with them, though.

In the case of the implanted ovary, since it was an identical twin the DNA would be exactly the same, so the twin receiving it would not have a problem with rejection or with it not functioning normally. But, if the two women were unrelated, except by having the same blood type and other such matches, problems might arise making it impossible.

As to the moral implications, I can’t really see how it would be any more wrong than receiving a heart or lung except that the parentage could be called into question. The organ having not originated with the birth mother might not be morally illicit, but it could be terribly complicated if the donor mother decided she wanted the baby after all. I guess we’ll just have to see what the Church rules on this one. I hope they’ll decide as soon as they can so people won’t be tempted to jump the gun and do something the Church would later rule sinful.
 
I have read a Church document on transplants, though I cannot find the reference at the moment, that specifically forbids the transplantation of gonads or brain tissue. These are considered specific to the person and not transferable.

I think it is an older, 5-10 years ago (?), papal document.
 
Hmmm. That document would go a long way to condeming ovarian transplants as morally disordered, apparently.

Do let us know when you find the document.
 
I can’t find the document. Have this from EWTN Father Torraco states [07-03-2004]* After death, all organs, with the exception of the brain and the gonads, may be donated*.

I can’t get a link to work for this; my computer is cranky today.
 
After reading the links in this thread, I vote definitely not morally ok.
 
I’m thinking it would be ok with identical twins because they have the same DNA, but not if the ovary came from a stranger. But at the same time it seems like these people are going way out of their way to get pregnant, kind of like when ppl get IVF. If a couple is childless, that may be God’s way of saying, ‘I’ve got something better in store for you.’ Truly a stumper though. :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
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StratusRose:
I’m thinking it would be ok with identical twins because they have the same DNA, but not if the ovary came from a stranger.
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Even if the donor was an identical twin, it’s still your sister’s egg. I’ll wait and see what the Church says. —KCT
 
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KCT:
Even if the donor was an identical twin, it’s still your sister’s egg. I’ll wait and see what the Church says. —KCT
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Good point. I’ll wait too.
 
I am thinking that it could not be morally justifiable because the side effects of the anti-rejection drugs such a person would have to take would be immensely more harmful than adoption. Not only that, such anti-rejection drugs would, quite likely, harm the baby. So, I would have to say no. It is just not a transplant that is essential for the life of the recipient.

The identical twin situation would be so rare-- I could not answer that one.
 
It rubs me the wrong way. Donating ovary tissue to aide in producing their own eggs is different than donating ovarys with your eggs included. Even if it is your twin sister, it isnt you that you’re giving if its not your own eggs or sperm. Just becuase its geneticly identical doesn’t mean its yours to give. This reduces to a form of surrogate motherhood.

My conclusion:
If the eggs are someone else’s it isnt good.
 
Most women that get ovarian transplants,
Probably need them. Wether its cancer or something thats caused their ovaries to not work. A transplant like that is usaully necessary.
 
I need more information.
On the one hand, I am troubled by all the experimenting of “reproductive technology”.
But April’s point is the same one I had: what if the transplant is done for other reasons? I admit to not knowing if the only reason for this particular surgery was to make the one sister fertile, or if it was a case where she had it done for other reasons, & one of the side effects of it was to make her fertile…
This would be very rare that there would be a twin there. But I know that women who have hormone problems (esp. at an early age, not normal menopause), there are all kinds of side effects of taking hormones artificially.
I think if the surgery is done to improve the woman’s health, & fertility is a side effect, it is probably OK.
To have a major surgery–on yourself and another person seems to me to be too “me centered”.
And I can see no reason whatsoever that would make it moral to have a surgery that puts you on immunosuppressive drugs for a lifetime, because you want your own baby–as opposed to adopting, being foster parents, etc–is just a really bad–and immoral–choice.:twocents:
 
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april_hosen:
Most women that get ovarian transplants,
Probably need them. Wether its cancer or something thats caused their ovaries to not work. A transplant like that is usaully necessary.
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Hi April,
Women can and do live without ovaries though… my thought is the only reason to replace it would be to have children. Although I feel for couples who are unable to conceive, I think taking someone’s ovary is the same as artificial insemination with donor sperm - it’s wrong.
 
This indeed was a very good Question…Now my head is spinning…One can see both sides of this Issue…I have for now anyways have dicided on it would be wrong. I think the Church has already rules on this in ****

CHARTER FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance

1.The child, in a sense, becomes offspring of the father and the donor woman, not the man’s wife.
  1. Ethically, not all organs can be donated. The brain and the gonads may not be transplanted because they ensure the personal and procreative identity respectively. These are organs which embody the characteristic uniqueness of the person, which medicine is bound to protect.
Pax et Bonum
 
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april_hosen:
Most women that get ovarian transplants,
Probably need them. Wether its cancer or something thats caused their ovaries to not work. A transplant like that is usaully necessary.
Click to expand...
Having working ovaries is necessary for a woman to become pregnant. Not having ovaries will result in menopause, whether timely or not, however, having ovaries, or even one ovary, is not necessary for life. Such a transplant is not necessary.
 
How would the issue of the woman’s health be different than one where abortion is an option? It would seem the logic would be the same.
 
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