Infertility and Faith: Muslim Women's Experiences, Religiosity, and Ethical Decision-Making on Assisted Reproductive Technology in Southern California
Huma Manjra, and Gery Ryan, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
Background:
Infertility is a deeply personal experience with profound physical, emotional, and spiritual implications. While biomedical and psychosocial research on infertility is extensive, few studies examine the lived experiences and perceptions of Muslim American women facing infertility. Given that Islam often shapes views on illness, morality, and family, understanding how Muslim women navigate infertility—and how their faith informs their meaning-making—is essential for improving reproductive care and support for this community.
Objective:
To explore the lived experiences and perceptions of Muslim women in Southern California facing infertility and examine how faith and religiosity inform their meaning-making and decisions regarding assisted reproductive technology (ART). This study also aims to identify gaps in support services and provide recommendations to address the social, psychological, and spiritual needs of Muslim women facing infertility, along with guidance on ART options.
Methods:
This exploratory qualitative study recruited 14 self-identified Muslim women residing in Southern California who had experienced infertility. Participants were recruited through mosques, Muslim community organizations, and snowball sampling via flyers and community group chats. Semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually through Microsoft Teams, transcribed, and will be coded using Dedoose software. Data analysis will follow Braun and Clarke’s thematic analyze using both deductive (based on prior literature and the codebook) and inductive (emergent) approaches. Preliminary thematic domains include: Journey with Infertility (recognition, emotions, coping), Social Support and Relationships (spousal, family, community roles), Faith and Religion (religious coping, guidance from scholars, ethical concerns, religious literacy, faith transformation), and Recommendations for Medical and Religious Communities.
Preliminary Findings:
Early themes reveal that participants often interpret infertility through Qadr (divine decree), viewing it as both a trial and a path toward spiritual growth. Faith emerged as a primary source of resilience, expressed through prayer, patience, and reframing infertility as part of divine wisdom. Participants described varying awareness of Islamic rulings on ART; however, many felt confident in their decisions without needing to consult scholars or seek additional religious guidance. Several participants experienced stigma and emotional isolation within their communities, highlighting the importance of spousal support and efforts to destigmatize infertility. A common theme was disappointment with medical care, with participants describing experiences that felt impersonal and mechanized, where their concerns were dismissed and insensitive comments left them feeling unsupported.
Conclusion:
Faith plays a central role in how Muslim women cope with infertility, providing resilience, meaning, and emotional support, even when it does not directly guide decisions about assisted reproductive technology. Experiences of stigma, emotional isolation, and insensitive medical encounters highlight the need for greater understanding and support from clinicians, family, and community. Addressing these social and emotional dimensions may help reduce isolation, normalize conversations around infertility, and foster environments where women can navigate infertility with both spiritual and practical support.
Infertility is a deeply personal experience with profound physical, emotional, and spiritual implications. While biomedical and psychosocial research on infertility is extensive, few studies examine the lived experiences and perceptions of Muslim American women facing infertility. Given that Islam often shapes views on illness, morality, and family, understanding how Muslim women navigate infertility—and how their faith informs their meaning-making—is essential for improving reproductive care and support for this community.
Objective:
To explore the lived experiences and perceptions of Muslim women in Southern California facing infertility and examine how faith and religiosity inform their meaning-making and decisions regarding assisted reproductive technology (ART). This study also aims to identify gaps in support services and provide recommendations to address the social, psychological, and spiritual needs of Muslim women facing infertility, along with guidance on ART options.
Methods:
This exploratory qualitative study recruited 14 self-identified Muslim women residing in Southern California who had experienced infertility. Participants were recruited through mosques, Muslim community organizations, and snowball sampling via flyers and community group chats. Semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually through Microsoft Teams, transcribed, and will be coded using Dedoose software. Data analysis will follow Braun and Clarke’s thematic analyze using both deductive (based on prior literature and the codebook) and inductive (emergent) approaches. Preliminary thematic domains include: Journey with Infertility (recognition, emotions, coping), Social Support and Relationships (spousal, family, community roles), Faith and Religion (religious coping, guidance from scholars, ethical concerns, religious literacy, faith transformation), and Recommendations for Medical and Religious Communities.
Preliminary Findings:
Early themes reveal that participants often interpret infertility through Qadr (divine decree), viewing it as both a trial and a path toward spiritual growth. Faith emerged as a primary source of resilience, expressed through prayer, patience, and reframing infertility as part of divine wisdom. Participants described varying awareness of Islamic rulings on ART; however, many felt confident in their decisions without needing to consult scholars or seek additional religious guidance. Several participants experienced stigma and emotional isolation within their communities, highlighting the importance of spousal support and efforts to destigmatize infertility. A common theme was disappointment with medical care, with participants describing experiences that felt impersonal and mechanized, where their concerns were dismissed and insensitive comments left them feeling unsupported.
Conclusion:
Faith plays a central role in how Muslim women cope with infertility, providing resilience, meaning, and emotional support, even when it does not directly guide decisions about assisted reproductive technology. Experiences of stigma, emotional isolation, and insensitive medical encounters highlight the need for greater understanding and support from clinicians, family, and community. Addressing these social and emotional dimensions may help reduce isolation, normalize conversations around infertility, and foster environments where women can navigate infertility with both spiritual and practical support.