#642: Can a Woman who suffers Menstrual Pains freeze her Eggs until Marriage
QUESTION:
“سلام عليكم ورحمة الله
Please can somebody who suffers from Dysmenorrhea freeze eggs till she gets married?”
ANSWER:
Wa Alaykum Salām Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh
Alhamdulillāh!
Dysmenorrhea has been defined by the ‘Center for Young Women’s Health’ as difficult or painful periods.
This means that it can be of two kinds:
1. That which is basic and would refer to the regular menstrual pain/cramps that ladies experience a day or two before their menstrual flow begins to two days or so after the flow begins.
2. That which is caused by a Medical Condition such as Endometriosis (Medical Condition involving the tissue been where it isn’t supposed to be)
That said, though you have not specified the kind of Dysmenorrhea to which you refer, we would assume that you imply the second by virtue of your use of the word suffer.
As for this, and Allāh knows best, it is not permissible to resort to these kinds of Freezing of Eggs.
We would assume that what you mean here also is disrupting and pausing the production of eggs by possibly the use of Hormonal Treatments using Oral Pills.
This is Harām if it is used continuously. And for the following reasons:
1. Medical Authorities have established that there are several medical risks attached to this sort of action. This includes Stroke, Heart Attacks, Tumors, Cancers (Ovarian, Breast), Swellings, Persistent Migraines, etc.
But Allāh has said:
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا
“And do not kill yourselves, indeed Allāh is Merciful toward you”
And in the Hadīth recorded by Imām Ahmad and Ibn Mājah, the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – said:
لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ
“Let there be no hurting of others and you are not to be hurt”
And based on this the Fuqahā are agreed that it is not permissible for one to engage in anything that endangers his and the health of others, except for Jihād.
Why then will you take to such Hormonal Treatments that can lead to other dangers and health challenges than what you currently face.
2. This can lead to a permanent damage to the body system
3. It seeks to change the nature upon which Allāh placed your body system
4. There are alternatives to curing this Challenge. What is apparent is that you need to visit a Medical Doctor who is proficient in this field of Medicine who can administer the right treatments for this. And we are aware that there are drugs that are administered even over the counter that solve this problem.
Somebody may say: but the Ulamā allowed a woman, who is on Hajj and who fears that her Hajj will be hampered by her period if it meets her in the course of this ‘Ibādah, to use these pills to delay the flow.
We answer: great difference exists between taking something once due to immense discomfort that may hamper the Actualization of a Pillar among the Pillars of one’s Dīn, and the regular use of such pills so as to free the eggs and prevent Dysmenorrhea.
We repeat, go see a medical Doctor and pursue a solution to your Medical Condition and do not be caught in this sort of action that soughts to change the Working of the body for fear of experiencing a serious Menstrual pain. This is Harām for the reasons we have stated.
And Allāh knows best
Bārakallāhu Fīkum
Jazakumullāhu Khayran
21st Dhul Hijjah 1439A.H
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