Abstract
BackgroundThis article analyzes several key issues in the debate: the acceptability of in vitro fertilization; regulation of assisted reproduction and the possibilities of reimbursement for assisted reproduction treatment in Lithuania.MethodTwo groups of respondents participated in the survey: fertile women and women with fertility disorders. 93 completed questionnaires from women with fertility problems and 146 from women with no fertility problems were analysed.ResultsFertile respondents more frequently perceived the embryo as a human being (Fertile Individuals – 68.5%; Infertile Individuals – 35.5%; p < 0.05) and more frequently maintained that assisted reproduction treatment should be only partly reimbursed (Fertile Individuals – 71.3%; Infertile Individuals – 39.8%; p < 0.05). Respondents with fertility disorders more frequently thought that artificial insemination procedure could also be applied to unmarried couples (Fertile Individuals – 51.4%; Infertile Individuals – 76.3%; p < 0.05), and more frequently agreed that there should be no age limit for artificial insemination procedures (Fertile Individuals – 36.3%; Infertile Individuals – 67.7%; p < 0.05). The majority of respondents in both groups (Fertile Individuals – 77.4%; Infertile Individuals – 82.8%; p < 0.05) believed that donation of reproductive cells should be regulated by law. Fertile respondents more frequently considered that strict legal regulation was necessary in case of the number of transferred embryos (Fertile Individuals – 69.2%; Infertile Individuals – 39.8%; p < 0.05) and freezing of embryos (Fertile Individuals – 69.9%; Infertile Individuals – 57.0%; p < 0.05).ConclusionFertile respondents were statistically more likely to believe that the IVF procedure should be applied only to married couples or women who had a regular partner, the age limit should be defined and the psychological assessment of the couple’s relationship and their readiness for the IVF procedure was necessary. In contrast, infertile couples were statistically more likely than fertile respondents to maintain that the IVF procedure should be fully reimbursed by the state. Fertile respondents were statistically more likely to be categorical with respect to the number of embryos and the freezing of embryos. Meanwhile there is a statistically significant difference in opinions of infertile respondents who were in favour of stricter regulation on donation of reproductive cells.
Highlights
This article analyzes several key issues in the debate: the acceptability of in vitro fertilization; regulation of assisted reproduction and the possibilities of reimbursement for assisted reproduction treatment in Lithuania
Our participants of our study provided informed consent and permission to conduct study was granted by Bioethical Comity at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
The survey data has revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in the attitudes of respondents: fertile respondents more frequently perceived the embryo as a human being (Fertile Individuals – 68.5%; Infertile Individuals – 35.5%; χ2 = 30.09; df = 2; p < 0.05) than respondents with fertility problems (Figure 2)
Summary
This article analyzes several key issues in the debate: the acceptability of in vitro fertilization; regulation of assisted reproduction and the possibilities of reimbursement for assisted reproduction treatment in Lithuania. More and more couples around the world including Lithuania complain of fertility disorders or are infertile. In today‘s world every sixth couple, i.e. 10-15%, faces some sort of fertility problems while another 10-25% of women experience secondary infertility, i.e. they cannot conceive following a previous pregnancy. Two million new infertile couples appear annually worldwide [1]. One in six British couples has difficulty in conceiving a baby, and the number of couples seeking medical help to have a family has risen dramatically [2]. In Lithuania there are about fifty thousand infertile couples; two more thousand are added to this number annually. The percentage of men and women that encounter fertility problems is nearly the same. Female infertility constitutes 30-40% of cases, male infertility – 10-30%, infertility due to both partners – 15-30% and unexplained infertility – 5-10% [3]
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