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Is it permissible to remove excess embryos from the womb after an ICSI procedure – in the eleventh week – if their multiplicity could lead to miscarriage, premature birth, or permanent disabilities for the fetuses?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The ruling on artificial insemination and its conditions have been previously explained. As for the issue of removing excess embryos from the womb, this is a matter of abortion. Scholars have unanimously agreed on the impermissibility of abortion if the fetus has completed one hundred and twenty days and the soul has been breathed into it, unless the continuation of the pregnancy poses a definite danger to the mother's life, or the fetus has died in her womb.

However, even before the soul is breathed into it, it is also impermissible unless there is a legitimate benefit or to avert an anticipated harm. What the questioner mentioned about the continuation of these multiple fetuses potentially leading to miscarriage or causing permanent disabilities to the fetuses is considered a legitimate excuse that permits the termination of embryos exceeding the tolerable number.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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