Religious and social pressures shape Muslim couples' fertility choices

Exploring Muslim Communities' Experiences and Barriers While Accessing Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Scoping Review of International Literature (Hammond, 2024)

Hammond, K., & Hamidi, N. (2024). Exploring Muslim communities' experiences and barriers while accessing assisted reproductive technologies: A scoping review of international literature. Journal of Religion and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-024-02056-x

Geographic Region: Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Qatar, UK, US, New Zealand, Australia, Lebanon, Egypt

Research Question: What are the barriers impacting Muslim individuals and couples' access to equitable Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)?

Design: Scoping review following Arksey and O'Malley framework. English language articles published up to December 2023

Sample: 27 studies on patients experiencing infertility, healthcare providers, religious leaders, and community members.

Key Findings

• Donor conception, particularly sperm donation, was consistently the most contentious aspect of ART. Sunni perspectives generally prohibit any third-party gamete donation. Shi'a perspectives have some variations, with some religious authorities permitting egg donation but prohibiting sperm donation. Some countries legally prohibit donor conception based on religious principles.

• Men displayed stronger aversions toward sperm donation compared to women. Some studies found women were less likely to disapprove of using donated eggs. Concerns about sperm donation were often linked to issues of patrilineage and masculinity.

• Some patients maintained secrecy when using donor conception. Some couples pursued donor conception despite religious prohibitions. In some cases, patients sought out religious leaders who would support their decision to use donor gametes. Some patients accessed "underground" markets for third-party donated gametes.

Limitations: Most studies from Muslim-majority countries

Applications: Need for more research on Muslim experiences in Western contexts. Importance of developing culturally-sensitive fertility services.

Funding Source: Open Access funding enabled and organized by CAUL and its Member Institutions

Lead Author: Kate Hammond is affiliated with the Department of Social Work at The University of Melbourne, Australia.

Regulatory Context: Third-party gamete donation is prohibited in some Islamic interpretations of religious law but permitted in others. The regulatory context varies significantly between Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority countries.