There’s a controversial in vitro fertilization method going on in some Egyptian clinics. Some of them are giving parents the chance to choose the sex of their future child.
Doctors select the embryos before fertilization. A majority of people who are willing to shell out thousands of dollars have needs specific to their own family situation.
Dr. Ashraf Sabry runs a clinic in Cairo. He says, "Among the patients, there are people who already have a lot of girls and would like to have a child of different sex. It happens sometimes in Egypt that families have absolutely needs a son to pass a name or heritage." Rules of succession in Islam favour male children.
One study found that 90% of Egyptian men would rather have no children at all than just have daughters.
However, this practice is controversial and could be banned shortly. Doctors and clerics in Egypt say this practice is going against God’s will and that this selection is unethical.
Several MPs have tabled bills in order to prohibit this practice and better regulate the process of in vitro fertilization.