Social factors in patients for artificial insemination by donor (AID)

Abstract

SummaryA programme of artificial insemination, using donor semen, within the NHS began in Nottingham in 1975. Since the inception of the programme all couples have been interviewed by a senior medical social worker, either at home or, later in the programme, within the clinics. This paper reports on features including education, employment, relationship to fertility status, relationship to parents and childhood, religion and reaction to adoption or fostering from the first 147 couples interviewed. All couples have stated a willingness for follow-up assessments and further studies are planned to review their marriages and psychological make-up in later years.

Artificial Insemination by Donor: a Survey of Attitudes and Knowledge in Medical Students and Infertile Couples

“…Members of infertile couples are less inclined than are medical students to tell children. In fact, Ledward et al (1979) found that of 147 infertile couples who actually utilized AID, 143 clearly stated that they would definitely not inform any child that it had been conceived through AID. Of the four other couples, two had received AID on genetic grounds.…”

“…Couples opting for AID indicate that they consider environmental factors to be more important than biological or genetic ones and that they feel AID satisfies the wife's biological wish for a pregnancy (Ledward, Crawford & Symonds, 1979). Conflicts of conscience occur seldom, marital relations remain the same or improve, and joy in life often intensifies (Levie, 1967).…”

“…Interestingly enough, while the general population has substantial reservations regarding many aspects of the insemination process, those infertile couples who conceived via AID appear positive and without conflict (Farris & Garrison, 1954;David & Avidan, 1976). Couples opting for AID indicate that they consider environmental factors to be more important than biological or genetic ones and that they feel AID satisfies the wife's biological wish for a pregnancy (Ledward, Crawford & Symonds, 1979). Conflicts of conscience occur seldom, marital relations remain the same or improve, and joy in life often intensifies (Levie, 1967).…”

Social and environmental factors as criteria for success in artificial insemination by donor (AID)

“…A previous report (Ledward, Crawford & Symonds, 1979) outlined the social characterization of the first 147 couples attending for artificial insemination by donor (AID) to the City Hospital, Nottingham after the programme was initiated in 1975. This review now analyses social and environmental factors in a total of 366 couples in an attempt to identify any factors which may provide indices for success in AID.…”

The study of psychological factors in couples receiving artificial insemination by donor: a discussion of methodological difficulties

“…Tiiese may mciude conflict with reiigious doctrme, anxiehes ai>out the donor, and concerns about aduitery and other morai, iegai and personai issues (Rubm 1965, Ledward et al 1979, Creighton 1985, Poteet & Lamar 1986 In addihon, many coupies prefer, or are encouraged to mamtam secrecy about then-treatment (Czyba & Chevret 1979, Snowden 1985 The mamtenance of such secrecy may be a further source of stress for tiian and may tum their treatment mto a burden Smce psychoiogicai factors may themseives influence fertiiity (Cabau & de Senardens 1986, Seibei & Taymor 1982, it IS possibie tiiat the added stresses of choosing and undergoing AID may have an efifect on the outcome Artifiaal insemination may only i>e successfui after many months of treatment and the reasons for this are not ciear A numijer of factors may ije responsibie, but it is possibie that stress is one of them Aitemahveiy, it is possibie that those who opt for AID are those who are sufi&aentiy robust psychoiogicaiiy to cope with the treatment Further research into the roie of psychoiogicai fadors m uifertiiity has h>een recommended (Daniiuic 1988, Daniiuic et al 1985 Emotional state…”