Islamic Anti-dotes to Childlessness Sa’eid Ahmad

Synopsis Introduction Types of infertility Causes of Infertility Management of Infertility Medical Management Psychological Management Islamic antidotes Conclusions

Introduction ﴿لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاء يَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشَاء إِنَاثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَاء الذُّكُورَ * أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًا وَإِنَاثًا وَيَجْعَلُ مَن يَشَاء عَقِيمًا إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ﴾الشوري:50

Introduction The inability to create a desired pregnancy that culminates in the birth of a child is likely to create a life crisis for women and their partners. Women seeking fertility treatment look to doctors for care, counsel and health teaching. © 2008, March of Dimes Foundation

Introduction (Ctd) Primary infertility: The inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse for a woman younger than 35, or after 6 months of unprotected intercourse for a woman 35 or older (Speroff & Fritz, 2005). Secondary infertility: The inability of a woman to conceive who previously was able to do so (Speroff & Fritz, 2005). Infertility is more common in older women. However, increased age reduces the efficacy of treatment. © 2008, March of Dimes Foundation

Definitions Infertility: Couples that have been unable to conceive a child after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without birth control. Women who have repeated miscarriages are also said to be infertile.

Making a baby… وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ مِنَ الْمَاء بَشَراً فَجَعَلَهُ نَسَباً وَصِهْراً وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ قَدِيراً  In order for a woman to become pregnant, egg must be released from one of the ovaries Egg must go through the fallopian tube toward the uterus Sperm must join with the egg in the fallopian tube (fertilization) Fertilized egg must attach to the uterine wall (implantation)

Scope of the problem About 12% of women (7.3 million) in the United States aged 15-44 had difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term in 2002 10 to 15% of couples in the U.S. are infertile.

When to see a doctor? Women in their 30s who've been trying to become pregnant for six months should speak to their doctors as soon as possible. Irregular periods or no menstrual periods Very painful periods Endometriosis Pelvic inflammatory disease More than one miscarriage

What Increases the Risks? Age Stress Poor diet Smoking Alcohol Overweight Underweight Caffeine intake Too much exercise

What Increases the Risks?

Infertility Causes of Infertility Divine Will Physical: obstruction/barrier Divine Will Biochemical: hormones/genetics Psychological: stress

Causes of Infertility Couple (Speroff & Fritz, 2005) Women (Speroff & Fritz, 2005) © 2008, March of Dimes Foundation

Causes of Infertility: female Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Severe endometriosis Ovulation disorders Elevated prolactin Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Early menopause Benign uterine fibroids Pelvic adhesions

Causes of Infertility: male Pre-testicular causes Refer to conditions of poor hormonal support and poor general health Drugs, anabolic steroids, alcohol Riding (bicycle riding, horseback riding) Tobacco smoking Genetic

Causes of Infertility: male Testicular factors Conditions where the testes produce semen of low quantity and/or poor quality despite adequate hormonal support Age Genetic defects on the Y chromosome Tumours Idiopathic failure Trauma Infections; Mumps Idiopathic oligospermia - unexplained sperm deficiencies account for 30% of male infertility.

Causes of Infertility: male Post-testicular causes Conditions that affect the male genital system after testicular sperm production Defects of the genital tract Problems in ejaculation; Vas deferens obstruction Infection, e.g. prostatitis Retrograde ejaculation Impotence

Other causes Medications Thyroid problems Cancer and treatment Other medical conditions associated with delayed puberty or amenorrhea HIV/AIDS, kidney disease and diabetes Fertilization Problems (1) = Anti-sperm antibodies (ASA) (2) = Oocyte membrane proteins

Treatment of Childlessness Depends on causes, if identified Medications Surgery, Artificial insemination or assisted reproductive technology. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) In vitro fertilization (IVF): Most effective Recommended when both fallopian tubes are blocked ART works best when the woman has a healthy uterus, responds well to fertility drugs, and ovulates naturally or uses donor eggs.

Complications of some treatment modalities Multiple pregnancy Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) Ovaries may enlarge and cause pain and bloating Bleeding or infection Low birth weight Birth defects

Islamic Panacea Patience and trust ذِكْرُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ نِدَاء خَفِيًّا قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُن بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِيَ مِن وَرَائِي وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا يَرِثُنِي وَيَرِثُ مِنْ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّا يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَى لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلامٌ وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا قَالَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئًا قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّي آيَةً قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلاثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيًّا فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا

Islamic Panacea Love and affection Prayers Patience and trust {رَبِّ لا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ} رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاء Patience and trust { وَامْرَأَتُهُ قَآئِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحَاقَ وَمِن وَرَاء إِسْحَاقَ يَعْقُوبَ } هود71 Medical consultation

وآخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العلمين!!!