To have a child. Artificial insemination

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION%0D%0A%0D%0AThe techniques of artificial insemination have been used in domestic animal%0D%0Abreeding as early as the fourteenth century among Arabs to inseminate%0D%0Ahorses. In the early 1890s researchers in Moscow developed A1 for sheep,%0D%0Acattle and horses, and the technique is now a major part of the sheep and%0D%0Acattle industry worldwide. At the end of the 18th century, an English%0D%0Aclinician, one John Hunter, claimed to have successfully applied the%0D%0Atechnique to humans. Successful experiments in France were followed by the%0D%0Areport of an American doctor in 1866 that he had performed fifty-five%0D%0Ainseminations on six women and had obtained the first A1 baby in this%0D%0Acountry.%0D%0A%0D%0AArtificial human insemination is the introduction of semen in the woman's%0D%0Avagina, cervical canal or uterus mechanically. It's purpose is to produce%0D%0Apregnancy when the wish to have a child apparently cannot be satisfied%0D%0Athrough normal sexual intercourse. This breakthrough in technology is%0D%0Aprobably well known to most people. The extended press coverage of Louise%0D%0ABrown, the first child born as a result of artificial reproduction on 25%0D%0AJuly 1978 created great interest in the field of human reproduction.%0D%0AArtificial reproduction is a term used to illustrate the various means of%0D%0Ahaving children. These include techniques ranging from the relatively simple%0D%0Aartificial insemination using semen of the husband (AIH), to artificial%0D%0Ainsemination using semen of an anonymous donor (AID) and sometimes the%0D%0Ahusband's semen is mixed with that of the donor (AIM), to the high tech of%0D%0AIVF which involves the fertilization of a sex cell followed by the transfer%0D%0Aor replacement of the resulting embryo into the woman, sometimes of a%0D%0Asurrogate mother.%0D%0A%0D%0ATypes of artificial insemination%0D%0AArtificial insemination using the husband's semen: This is not frequently%0D%0Aresorted to because the husband's semen is rarely of any value. However, it%0D%0Ais appropriate in the following situations, viz:%0D%0A- Where there are factors (such as physical difficulties) on the part of%0D%0Aeither the husband or a wife or both preventing successful intercourse, but%0D%0Awhere the fertility of both parties is otherwise adequate. Male physical%0D%0Adifficulties include premature ejaculation, physical impotence and obesity.%0D%0AFemale physical difficulties may include obesity, vaginal scarring or%0D%0Atumours, abnormal uterine position, vaginismus and cervical hostility.%0D%0A- Where the husband is subfertile because of defective spermatozoa, the%0D%0Achances of conception may be improved if the fertile part of the semen can%0D%0Abe separated from the less fertile part. Several specimens of a husband's%0D%0Asemen can be collected to form one single insemination. A1, therefore may be%0D%0Amore effective than natural intercourse.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe advantages of AIH, it is argued, is that a husband and wife can find a%0D%0Afamily through reproduction. Consequently, a husband will not feel left out%0D%0Aof the reproductive process. Furthermore, there is no difficulty or%0D%0Aambiguity with the resulting child's legal status, and the question of%0D%0Aparenthood is not raised. AIH is, thus, the least controversial of available%0D%0Aartificial techniques, morally, socially and legally.%0D%0A%0D%0ANevertheless, would these solutions to infertility be justified? Would it%0D%0Anot be tantamount to interfering with the systematic planning of Allah? It%0D%0Ais definitely true that such technology can be abused, but we cannot condemn%0D%0Ait as being totally against the Sunan of Allah since infertility can be%0D%0Aclassified as a "disease" or "defect". The saying of the Prophet "for every%0D%0Adisease there is a cure" gives Muslims the impetus to try and do something%0D%0Aabout it. However, inspite of corrective surgery, various other techniques%0D%0Acould create ethical problems, which would now be examined jurisdically.%0D%0A%0D%0A[ Islamic Principles on Family Planning; Mufti Allie Haroun Sheik pages%0D%0A133 - 134 ]%0D%0A%0D%0A