Abstract
ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine public attitudes towards third-party reproduction and the disclosure of conception through third-party reproduction.MethodsWe conducted the web-based survey for the public attitude towards third-party reproduction in February 2014. Twenty-five hundred people were recruited with equal segregation of age (20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s) and gender. We analyzed the association between gender, age, infertility, and ethical view using a questionnaire regarding donor sperm, donor oocyte, donor embryo, gestational surrogacy, and disclosure to offspring.ResultsOf the respondents, 36.2% approved and 26.6% disapproved of gamete or embryo donation. The frequency of those who approved was lowest in females in the 50–59 year age group, and was significantly higher in males or females with infertility. Secondly, 40.9% approved and 21.8% disapproved of gestational surrogacy. The frequency of those who approved gestational surrogacy was higher in males or females with infertility. Thirdly, 46.3% of respondents agreed and 20.4% disagreed with “offspring have the right to know their origin”. Those who disagreed were primarily in the 50–59 year age group of both genders, and disagreement was significantly higher in the infertility group compared with non-infertility group.ConclusionIn this study, public attitudes were affected by gender, age, and experience of infertility. These study findings are important in understanding the attitude towards third-party reproduction and disclosure to the offspring. Respondents having indecisive attitudes were >30%, which might indicate an increased requirement for information and education to enhance the discussion on the ethical consensus on third-party reproduction in Japan.
Highlights
The treatment cycle of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has dramatically increased; more than 1 million babies were born by ART between 2008 and 2010 [1]
Public attitudes were affected by gender, age, and experience of infertility
These study findings are important in understanding the attitude towards third-party reproduction and disclosure to the offspring
Summary
The treatment cycle of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has dramatically increased; more than 1 million babies were born by ART between 2008 and 2010 [1]. ART is widely accepted as clinically effective for treatment of many forms of subfertility, some people cannot conceive due to poor reproductive function, for example, uterine infertility and poor ovarian function. For those patients, ART using third party sperm, oocytes, or uterus is an option, known as third-party reproduction. The attitudes toward third-party reproduction are different in different countries, partly dependent on the legality of oocyte donation in a particular country. In Japan, there is no legislation concerning ART, gamete or embryo donation, and gestational surrogacy, which have been controlled by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines [4]. The academic society currently prohibits academic members from being involved in surrogate pregnancies, but sperm or egg donation is not prohibited and performed in limited numbers
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