Those of us who are interested in helping infertile couples conceive and have successful pregnancies must be very careful to make sure that in their zeal to outlaw abortions, the right-to-life movement does not inadvertently or purposefully take away our most effective fertility options.

According to a January 8th editorial in the New York Times, "Republicans Versus Reproductive Rights," this is not so far-fetched. According to the editorial, "Mr. Huntsman opposed the “personhood” initiative in Mississippi that would have given human fertilized eggs the legal rights and protections that apply to people, and outlawed abortion as well as some of the most widely used forms of contraception and in vitro fertilization. Mississippi voters resoundingly rejected the measure in November as going too far.

Mr. Romney denied supporting the measure once it was defeated. But before the vote, in an interview with Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and a Fox News personality, he created a different impression. When asked whether as Massachusetts governor he would have supported a constitutional amendment establishing that life begins at conception, he said, 'Absolutely.' "

The consequences of an amendment that life begins at conception would have all sorts of consequences for advanced reproductive technology. We need to make sure that all infertile persons have the right to pursue effective advanced treatments to help them complete their families.