Can a Woman Freeze Her Eggs to Use Later or Donate to Someone?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas
Question: I would like to know if it is Islamically permissible for a woman to freeze her ovum/eggs at a medical center with intention to retrieve for conception at another time, for herself or to donate.
Answer: assalamu `alaykum
It would be permissible for a woman to free her eggs with the intention of future retrieval. However, any attempt at conception can only be done with her spouse without the involvement of any third party. For this reason, it would not be permissible for her to donate her eggs to anyone else.
The following is the verdict of the Majma` al-Fiqh al-Islami regarding the issue of artificial insemination:
“Firstly, the following five (5) methods are all Islamically forbidden and absolutely prohibited for its own sake or due to the consequences manifested in employing them of the lineage being confused and loss of motherhood and other Shariah prohibited matters. These methods are:
1. The fertilization taking place between the sperm taken from the husband and the eggs taken from a woman who is not his wife, and then the fertilized ovum being implanted into the womb of his wife.
2. The fertilization taking place between the sperm taken from a man who is not the husband and the eggs taken from the wife, and then the fertilized ovum being implanted into the womb of the wife.
3. The fertilization taking place in-vitro between the sperm and the eggs taken from the spouses, and then the fertilized ovum being implanted into the womb of a volunteer woman (i.e. surrogate motherhood).
4. The fertilization taking place in-vitro between the sperm of a man and eggs of a woman who are both strangers to one another, and then the fertilized ovum being implanted into the womb of another man’s wife.
5. The fertilization taking place in-vitro between the sperm and the eggs taken from the spouses, and then the fertilized ovum is implanted into the womb of the husband’s other wife.
Secondly, there is no problem in resorting to the sixth or seventh method, in case of necessity, provided all required precautions are taken. These two methods are:
7. The sperm of the husband and the eggs of the wife are taken and fertilized in-vitro, and then the fertilized ovum is implanted into the womb of the wife.
8. Artificial insemination, by taking the sperm of the husband and inserting it in the appropriate place of his wife’s womb, for fertilization.” (Qararat wa tawsiyyat Majma` al-Fiqh al-Islami, P. 34-35)
Salman
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani