In Iran, it is legal to choose the sex of a baby through IVF, but there are strict medical and ethical rules that must be followed. In Iran, licensed fertility clinics may offer gender selection mainly for medical reasons, like stopping genetic disorders that are linked to sex, and for balancing families. This is allowed because there are rules in place from the Ministry of Health and fatwas from important Shia Islamic leaders that would enable preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for sex determination within a valid marriage using the couple’s own gametes.
Iran is one of the few countries that lets people pick their gender with the help of a doctor. The procedures are performed at certified centers that use the latest technologies, including PGD and microsorting. These methods let you choose the exact sex you want, and they are primarily available to families who wish to gender balance or who have medical reasons. In Iran, gender selection is done in a way that respects religious and cultural differences and follows moral guidelines.
Which legal requirements must clinics meet to offer gender selection?
To offer gender selection through IVF, clinics in Iran must follow several legal rules:
- Fertility centers must be licensed by the Iranian Ministry of Health and comply with national regulations governing assisted reproductive technologies.
- Only do gender selection if the genetic parents are legally married (the egg and sperm donors must be the same couple).
- Use medically approved methods like Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) or Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) to find out the sex of an embryo. Ensure that the procedures are under medical supervision and meet quality standards.
- Follow ethical guidelines backed by religious fatwas from Shia Islamic authorities to make sure that gender selection is done mainly for medical reasons (like avoiding sex-linked genetic disorders) or to balance the family.
- For each case, keep complete medical records and counseling records that explain why gender selection is necessary.
- Follow the national rules and ethics set by organizations such as the Iranian Society of Reproductive Medicine, and keep clients’ choices private and treat them with respect.
This legal system combines modern scientific methods with Islamic law. In Iran, licensed fertility clinics can legally, medically, and culturally choose the gender of their children. In other words, gender selection in Iran is completely allowed
What medical reasons allow for gender selection according to Iranian law?
Iranian law says that the medical reasons that allow couples to choose the gender of their child are mostly about stopping the spread of sex-linked genetic disorders. These include diseases that are passed down through the X chromosome, like Duchenne muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and Fragile X syndrome. Couples with a history or risk of genetic diseases can choose Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) during IVF to select embryos of the desired sex. This lowers the chances that their child will inherit the disorder.
Gender selection is allowed for family balancing, which means that couples with more than one child of the same gender can choose the opposite sex for their next child. This wider allowance is governed by Iran’s legal and moral standards, with fatwas supporting gender selection when it is medically necessary or sought for family balancing.
In short, the main medical reasons that allow gender selection in Iran are:
- Preventing genetic disorders linked to the X chromosome, such as Fragile X, hemophilia, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
- Family balancing for couples who want to have kids of both sexes in a controlled setting.
- Under strict supervision to make sure that ethical and religious rules are followed, this legal and medical framework allows gender selection in licensed fertility clinics.
Documentation needed to undergo gender selection via IVF in Iran:
| Required Document | Description |
| Marriage Certificate | Legal proof of a valid marriage is required as gender selection is allowed only for married couples. |
| Medical Records | Documentation of medical indications, such as the risk of sex-linked genetic disorders. |
| Counseling Documentation | Records show that the couple received counseling on the ethical, medical, and legal aspects of gender selection. |
| Identification Documents | Passports or national ID cards of both partners to verify identity. |
| Consent Forms | Signed informed consent agreements from both partners for the gender selection procedure. |
| Clinic License | Proof that the IVF clinic is officially licensed and accredited by the Iranian Ministry of Health. |
| Embryo Genetic Testing Reports | Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) results confirming embryo sex before implantation. |
| Compliance with Religious Fatwa | Documentation or confirmation that the procedure aligns with Islamic legal rulings supporting PGD gender selection. |
This paperwork makes sure that gender selection is done legally, morally, and medically in licensed fertility centers in Iran that follow the rules set by the government. IranHealthAgency makes sure you skip all these processes, making your IVF journey smooth and straightforward.
