Dorothy A Greenfeld1, Emre Seli. 1. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA. dorothy.greenfeld@yale.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To medically and psychologically assess gay men seeking parenthood through assisted reproduction and to provide guidelines for the assessment. DESIGN: Qualitative observational study. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT(S): Thirty gay males (15 couples) presenting for assisted reproduction using an oocyte donor and a gestational carrier. INTERVENTION(S): Semistructured interview and medical evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Determination of psychological and medical eligibility for treatment. RESULT(S): The average age of men was 38.4 years. All couples were in a committed relationship and had been together for an average 6.4 years. All met medical and psychological criteria for acceptance. CONCLUSION(S): Gay men increasingly choose fatherhood through assisted reproduction. Counseling these couples on the medical and emotional demands of in vitro fertilization with a gestational carrier and an oocyte donor is a vital component of pretreatment preparation.
OBJECTIVE: To medically and psychologically assess gay men seeking parenthood through assisted reproduction and to provide guidelines for the assessment. DESIGN: Qualitative observational study. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT(S): Thirty gay males (15 couples) presenting for assisted reproduction using an oocyte donor and a gestational carrier. INTERVENTION(S): Semistructured interview and medical evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Determination of psychological and medical eligibility for treatment. RESULT(S): The average age of men was 38.4 years. All couples were in a committed relationship and had been together for an average 6.4 years. All met medical and psychological criteria for acceptance. CONCLUSION(S): Gay men increasingly choose fatherhood through assisted reproduction. Counseling these couples on the medical and emotional demands of in vitro fertilization with a gestational carrier and an oocyte donor is a vital component of pretreatment preparation.