I do not see a legal hindrance to the "surrogate womb", but we are applying what is permitted by the Fiqh Council .. d. Samir Abbas to Al-Sharq: The success rate of "IVF" jumped to 60%, after it was between 15 and 20%. Professor Samir Abbas said that the success rate of "IVF" has jumped to 60%, after it ranged between 15 and 20%, explaining He does not see anything legally prohibiting the operation of "IVF" using what is known as the "surrogate uterus", but he affirmed his commitment to implementing what is permitted by the Fiqh Council, pointing to legal disputes that occur when using the "surrogate uterus" in countries that allow it. Abbas stated in an interview with Al Sharq that the cost of performing the IVF procedure abroad is twice as expensive in the Kingdom, pointing out that the cost of the operation in the United States amounts to the equivalent of fifty thousand riyals, and in Britain it is close to this figure, confirming that the local efficiency is equal. With external. Abbas denied the possibility of switching the treatment centers in the Kingdom for sperms or eggs to raise the success rate of the operation, referring to the integrity and honesty of doctors, in addition to the state''s toughening of penalties in such cases.

Tell us about your life and your study of this science?

I was born in the city of Jeddah in 1358 AH / 1947 AD. I obtained a high school diploma from Al-Shati School, then a Bachelor’s degree in medicine in 1972, and a master’s degree in obstetrics and gynecology in 1975 from the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, and then the British fellowship from London in the same specialty. I worked as a professor at the College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, in Jeddah for seven years, and I was honored by placing my name in the encyclopedia “Who’s Who” in Europe, America and Asia.

How was the reaction when IVF technology entered the kingdom, and how is it now?

The IVF project began after it was approved by the Islamic Fiqh Academy, which is considered the legal reference for Muslims in the world. After an in-depth study that I submitted to the Council, the Council in 1405 AH / 1984 approved the currently available treatment methods on the condition that no sperms, eggs, or embryos be used from donors, and the Council urged Create an ethical committee to set up a system of practices to protect patients, and to ensure that unethical practices do not occur.

Can I mention a simple definition of IVF, and the place and timing of the first procedure of this kind?

The scoop is counted with pride for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically the city of Jeddah, which witnessed the first operation of this kind in the Arab and Islamic world, and the birth took place in Riyadh. And the method of performing the operation is limited to conducting examinations for the spouses, to find out the reason for the delay in pregnancy, then giving the wife ovarian stimulation drugs, to produce a sufficient number of eggs, then the eggs are withdrawn by a simple surgery through the vagina, under simple anesthesia, and the eggs are fertilized with the husband''s life. And placed in incubators, and the best fertilized eggs are ed to be transferred to the uterus.

How old is the first IVF baby in Saudi Arabia, and how is his health condition?

The first IVF child is now 25 years old, and his name is Muhammad, and he is in good health, and does not require any special medical follow-up.

How did you start the idea of ​​introducing IVF into the Kingdom?

IVF technology is considered one of the modern medical sciences compared to the well-known specialties of medicine, as he was nearly thirty years old, and the first child in vitro Both sexes, and the press at that time called “IVF” on the technique (invetro fertilization IVF), meaning in vitro fertilization, and it was the first case to be treated and succeeded by this method in Britain for a woman suffering from blocked fallopian tubes. She was fertilized with her husband''s life and then placed in private incubators, and after three days she was returned to the mother''s womb, and she lived through this knowledge from its beginnings and was working in Britain when the first IVF baby was born in the world. Then it happened that she worked in the second IVF center in Britain at the Royal Free Hospital. », I went back to the homeland where I worked at King Abdulaziz University, trying to introduce this technology, especially since the rate of infertility in the Kingdom ranges between 15-20%, with about two out of five couples suffering from infertility.

What is the success rate of IVF in the Kingdom since the beginning?

The percentage at the beginning of the technology ranged between 10-15%, but with the current tremendous development, the use of modern technologies, and accumulative knowledge, with experience of the causes of delayed pregnancy, the percentage reached 60% in age groups less than 35 years.

What is the strangest situation you have been in during an IVF procedure?

I treated a married couple from Medina who suffered infertility, in 1408 AH / 1987 CE, and at that time we were placing a large number of embryos inside the uterus, to raise the incidence of pregnancy, and the wife conceived four twins, and the first case that I met was pregnant with more than twins, and the patient gave birth in the middle of the seventh month With great difficulty, after 12 hours of stress and anxiety, and a research with a full medical team, the embryos were placed in nurseries, and now they have completed their twenty-fourth year, and despite the occurrence of eight similar cases, the case was mentioned in a British book in 1988.

Does the Kingdom keep pace with scientific progress at the global level?

Some government hospitals have reached advanced scientific levels, and it has become rare for a married couple to travel outside the Kingdom to conduct these operations. The state also supported the private sector by granting it loans and facilities, which contributed to building dozens of hospitals similar to their Western counterparts.

Can the type of embryos be determined, their numbers, and how is this done?

It is known medically that some genetic diseases afflict males, while others afflict females. Therefore, we introduced the technique of treating and diagnosing fetuses for genetic diseases, before returning them to the uterus, known as “PGD”, and it was necessary to diagnose the sex of the fetus by taking a biopsy from the fetus at the stage of fertilized eggs. And reading the chromosomal analysis of the cell, knowing the sex with more than 99% accuracy, and diagnosing many genetic diseases.

Where do you expect this science to arrive in light of the ongoing research?

Current research focuses on raising the rates of pregnancy, with the birth of a healthy child, free of diseases, the goal goes beyond just pregnancy, to focus on treating many genetic diseases that burden the family psychologically and financially, such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, but it has become possible to conceive Children with special specifications so that when they are born, their umbilical cord blood can be used to treat their sick siblings, who have no hope of cure. The first child with this technology was born in our country in 2007 in Jeddah.

How do you see the cost of IVF procedure in Saudi Arabia compared to the outside world?

Treatment abroad costs twice as much in the Kingdom, with the exception of additional expenses, such as airline tickets and hotel accommodation, noting that our efficiency is very high, and its value in America exceeds fifty thousand riyals, as it approaches this figure in Britain.

It was raised before the period of violation of some centers, where the spermatozoa or eggs were changed, which raised the success rate to 95%. Is this correct?

This did not and will not happen. Doctors fear God first, and then the punishment of the state, which has been exaggerated in this regard.

The "surrogate uterus" is known in the West, so can we know more about it, and was IVF performed using the surrogate uterus in the Kingdom?

I think that there is no legal objection to using the "surrogate uterus" in IVF, but we do not perform such operations at present, because the Fiqh Council did not approve them.

From your personal point of view, do you support performing IVF operations through what is known as a "surrogate uterus"?

Although I do not see a legitimate reason for that However, many of the similar cases that were conducted in the West resulted in legal disputes, and the reason for that is that the owner of the surrogate uterus feels as soon as the fetus moves in her womb with tenderness for him and refuses to hand it over, and we are committed to implementing what the Fiqh Council permits to the fullest.

This material was published in Al-Sharq newspaper, issue No. (150) pages (27) on (02-05-2012).

Jeddah | Abdullah Aoun