Help for Infertility: Experts Urge Couple to Seek Spiritual Advice

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

In an attempt to seek help for cases of infertility, couples have been charged to seek spiritual advice from Ulamas to assist them in determining what is permissible in Islam and what is Haram (forbidden).

Medical experts gave the advice at the An-nadwa Annual Scholars Colloquium organised by Standard Bearer Islamic Organisation in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Speaking on the topic: ‘Comprehensive Overview of the Medical Solution to Infertility’,  a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Prof K.O Ajisefuja, said infertility has a negative impact on the quality of life of couples, especially women, adding that infertility may be caused by either partner.

Identifying causes of infertility, Prof Ajisefuja noted that most times, “infertility is due to infection that is tubal blockage and outflow tract obstruction as well as exposing the testes to high temperatures leading to impaired sperm production.”

Other causes, according to the medical expert, are blockage of the vas deference that hinders sperm transportation, epididymoorchitis, inadequate meeting, anovulation from various sperm production and varicocele decreases sperm production and quality.

Enumerating some of the effects of infertility on the couple, Ajisefuja said that in a patriarchal society, the blame is often on the women because it is the women who get pregnant.

According to him, “The success of marriage in any setting is for the woman to bear children, saying the inability of a woman to get pregnant is often a cause of socio-cultural, psychological, and emotional trauma for couples more so o the women than men.

“Infertility may lead to polygamy, frequent quarrels, separation, and even divorce. Society often looks down on an infertile couple, and the stigmatisation that goes with it.”

Also speaking, a lecturer in the Department of Islamic Studies, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Dr. Nafiu Ahmad Al-Jawhari, identified five forms of invitro fertilization prohibited by the Islamic law, just as he said only two invitro fertilization procedures are lawful in Sunni-Islam

Al-Jawhari said fertilization is the product of the husband’s sperm and the wife’s ovum achieved outside the body, where the embryo is then inserted into the wife’s uterus and fertilization is the product of the husband’s sperm is mechanically inserted into his wife’s uterus so that the fertilization takes place inside her body are lawful under Sunni-Islam law.

Speaking on the usefulness of couples having children, Al-Jawhari said having children will work in one’s favour after death.

“Procreation or fertility is a natural phenomenon visible in all God’s creations. However, Islam places a high premium on human reproduction because of its divine position on the health and vicegerency.

“In Islam, fertility is described as manifest favour of Allah bestowed on human as seen in Q16:72. Many virtues are associated with having children in Islam, it’s opposite to mention first, as having a child may work in one’s favour after death as stated by Prophet Muhammed (SAW) that one of the endless reward a man will continue to reap even after death is a virtuous child assisting his parent with prayer(Muslim),” he stated.