Fertility methods
Letters[edit]
- https://bahai-library.com/uhj_infertility_adoption_consent
- https://bahai-library.com/uhj_in-vitro_fertilization_issues
In-Vitro Fertilization and Surrogate Mothers[edit]
"The queries you raise about donors of eggs or sperm in cases of infertility and the state of the souls of frozen embryos relate to the broader question of the Bahá'í attitude toward recent advances in medical science which increase the probability of conception in cases of infertility.
"The Bahá'í view is very balanced. While appreciating the value of the new medical techniques which enable previously childless couples to enjoy the blessings of a family, the teachings define such limits as are necessary to preserve the dignity of the individual and the sanctity of marriage.
"...While artificial insemination is a very different process from in-vitro fertilization, the principle enunciated by the Guardian is the same, namely, that to be acceptable to Bahá'ís the egg cell of the wife should be fertilized by the sperm of the husband in the procedure.
"The spiritual and social implications involved in the use of surrogate mothers to provide for the gestation of the embryo, even when the embryo results from the fertilization of the husband's sperm and the wife's egg cell which is later implanted into the womb of the third party, are too far-reaching for such a procedure to be permissible to Bahá'ís."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, October 25, 1984, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1168)
Surrogate Mothers and Artificial Insemination[edit]
"Regarding surrogate mothers and artificial insemination, you will find the following extracts from statements made by the Universal House of Justice relevant to your questions:
'The beloved Guardian, in a letter written on his behalf to an individual believer who enquired on the same subject, said "...there is nothing in our teachings about this, therefore there is no objection to having a baby by means of artificial insemination as long as your husband is the father of it.'
'Artificial insemination is, therefore, permissible to a Bahá'í wife provided her husband is the donor.'"
- (From a letter dated 11 July 1978 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, in Lights of Guidance, no. 973)
"Also, after quoting the above statement of the Guardian, the following comment was made in another letter:
'In view of this, the House of Justice has stated that it would not be proper for a Bahá'í to donate semen to a hospital for the artificial insemination of a woman other than his wife.'"
- (From a letter dated 25 May 1979 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia)
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the compiler of this compilation, October 27, 1981)
Artificial Production of Life[edit]
"As to your question regarding the possibility of an artificial production of life by means of an incubator: This is essentially a matter that concerns science, and as such should be investigated and studied by scientists."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, December 31, 1937: Selections From Bahá'í Writings on Some Aspects of Health, Healing, Nutrition and Related Subjects, op. cit., in Lights of Guidance, no. 974)
Conception Without Male Sperm[edit]
"...As to the possibility of conception without the presence of a male sperm in the future: This is a question which lies entirely within the province of science, and which future scientists will have to investigate."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 27, 1938, in Lights of Guidance, no. 975)
