Gestational surrogacypsychosocial aspects

  1. Nicolás Ruiz-Robledillo 1
  2. Luis Moya-Albiol 1
  1. 1 Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Spain
Journal:
Psychosocial Intervention

ISSN: 1132-0559

Year of publication: 2016

Volume: 25

Issue: 3

Pages: 187-193

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1016/J.PSI.2016.05.001 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Psychosocial Intervention

Abstract

Innovation in assisted reproductive technologies together with increased infertility and new family structures are increasing the use of gestational surrogacy as a means to have children. Before, during and after the process, it is necessary to study the psychosocial characteristics of triad members: the gestational surrogate, intended parents, and offspring. Research has indicated positive adaptation to the process and benefits for all members of the triad. Altruism is the main motivation of surrogates. Notably, psychological well-being has been found to be higher in individuals who have become parents through surrogacy than in those who have used egg donation or have followed a natural process of conception. Moreover, no differences in psychosocial characteristics have been observed in the offspring, compared with children born through natural conception or egg donation. Results highlight the positive aspects of surrogacy. Future research should investigate psychosocial factors that modulate the process, acting as risk and protective factors for well-being of the triad members, and identify the optimal profiles of surrogates for the process to be a success.

Bibliographic References

  • Appleton, T., IVF (host) surrogacy (1990) The British Infertility Counselling Newslett, 4, pp. 7-15
  • Arvidsson, A., Johnsdotter, S., Essén, B., Views of Swedish Commissioning parents relating to the exploitation discourse in using transnational surrogacy (2015) PLOS ONE, 10, p. e0126518
  • Baslington, H., The social organization of surrogacy: Relinquishing a baby and the role of payment in the psychological detachment process (2002) Journal of Health Psychology, 7, pp. 57-71
  • Bergman, K., Rubio, R.J., Green, R.J., Padrón, E., Gay men who become fathers via surrogacy: The transition to parenthood (2010) Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 6, pp. 111-141
  • Berkowitz, D., Gay men and surrogacy. En LGBT-parent families (2013), pp. 71-85. , Springer New York
  • Bhatia, K., Martindale, E.A., Rustamov, O., Nysenbaum, A.M., Surrogate pregnancy: An essential guide for clinicians (2009) The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, 11, pp. 49-54
  • Biyth, E., ‘Not a primrose path’: Commissioning parents’ experiences of surrogacy arrangements in Britain (1995) Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 13, pp. 185-196
  • Blyth, E., I wanted to be interesting. I wanted to be able to say ‘I've done something interesting with my life’: Interviews with surrogate mothers in Britain (1994) Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 12, pp. 189-198
  • Braverman, A.M., Corson, S.L., Characteristics of participants in a gestational carrier program (1992) Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 9, pp. 353-357
  • Brinsden, P.R., Gestational surrogacy (2003) Human Reproduction Update, 9, pp. 483-491
  • Bromham, D.R., Surrogacy: The evolution of opinion (1991) British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 47, pp. 767-772
  • Butcher, J.N., Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (1989) Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology
  • Chliaoutakis, J.E., Koukouli, S., Papadakaki, M., Using attitudinal indicators to explain the public's intention to have recourse to gamete donation and surrogacy (2002) Human Reproduction, 17, pp. 2995-3002
  • Ciccarelli, J.C., Beckman, L.J., Navigating rough waters: An overview of psychological aspects of surrogacy (2005) Journal of Social Issues, 61, pp. 21-43
  • Constantinidis, D., Cook, R., Australian perspectives on surrogacy: The influence of cognitions, psychological and demographic characteristics (2012) Human Reproduction, 27, pp. 1080-1087
  • Dempsey, D., Surrogacy, gay male couples and the significance of biogenetic paternity (2013) New Genetics and Society, 32, pp. 37-53
  • Dunn, P.C., Ryan, I.J., O'Brien, K., College students’ acceptance of adoption and five alternative fertilization techniques (1988) Journal of Sex Research, 24, pp. 282-287
  • Edelmann, R.J., Surrogacy: The psychological issues (2004) Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 22, pp. 123-136
  • Consideration of the gestational carrier: A committee opinion (2013) Fertility and Sterility, 99, pp. 1838-1841
  • Fisher, A.M., The journey of gestational surrogacy: Religion, spirituality and assisted reproductive technologies (2013) International Journal of Children's Spirituality, 18, pp. 235-246
  • Franks, D.D., Psychiatric evaluation of women in a surrogate mother program (1981) The American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, p. 1378
  • Golombok, S., Blake, L., Casey, P., Roman, G., Jadva, V., Children born through reproductive donation: A longitudinal study of psychological adjustment (2013) Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54, pp. 653-660
  • Golombok, S., MacCallum, F., Murray, C., Lycett, E., Jadva, V., Surrogacy families: Parental functioning, parent–child relationships and children's psychological development at age 2 (2006) Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 47, pp. 213-222
  • Golombok, S., Murray, C., Jadva, V., Lycett, E., MacCallum, F., Rust, J., Non-genetic and non-gestational parenthood: Consequences for parent–child relationships and the psychological well-being of mothers, fathers and children at age 3 (2006) Human Reproduction, 21, pp. 1918-1924
  • Golombok, S., Murray, C., Jadva, V., MacCallum, F., Lycett, E., Families created through surrogacy arrangements: Parent–child relationships in the 1st year of life (2004) Developmental Psychology, 40, pp. 400-411
  • Golombok, S., Readings, J., Blake, L., Casey, P., Marks, A., Jadva, V., Families created through surrogacy: Mother–child relationships and children's psychological adjustment at age 7 (2011) Developmental Psychology, 47, pp. 1579-1588
  • Greene, R.L., Clopton, J.R., Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 (MMPI-2) (2004) The use of psychological testing for treatment planning and outcomes assessment
  • Greenfeld, D.A., Seli, E., Gay men choosing parenthood through assisted reproduction: Medical and psychosocial considerations (2011) Fertility and Sterility, 95, pp. 225-229
  • Hanafin, H., Surrogate parenting: Reassessing human bonding (1987) American Psychological Association Convention, , New York
  • Hohman, M.M., Hagan, C.B., Satisfaction with surrogate mothering: A relational model (2001) Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 4, pp. 61-84
  • Imrie, S., Jadva, V., The long-term experiences of surrogates: Relationships and contact with surrogacy families in genetic and gestational surrogacy arrangements (2014) Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 29, pp. 424-435
  • Jadva, V., Imrie, S., The significance of relatedness for surrogates and their families (2014) Relatedness in Assisted Reproduction, , Cambridge University Press
  • Jadva, V., Imrie, S., Children of surrogate mothers: Psychological well-being, family relationships and experiences of surrogacy (2014) Human Reproduction, 29, pp. 90-96
  • Jadva, V., Blake, L., Casey, P., Golombok, S., Surrogacy families 10 years on: Relationship with the surrogate, decisions over disclosure and children's understanding of their surrogacy origins (2012) Human Reproduction, 27, pp. 3008-3014
  • Jadva, V., Imrie, S., Golombok, S., Surrogate mothers 10 years on: A longitudinal study of psychological well-being and relationships with the parents and child (2014) Human Reproduction, 30, pp. 373-379
  • Jadva, V., Murray, C., Lycett, E., MacCallum, F., Golombok, S., Surrogacy: The experiences of surrogate mothers (2003) Human Reproduction, 18, pp. 2196-2204
  • Kirby, J., Transnational gestational surrogacy: Does it have to be exploitative? (2014) The American Journal of Bioethics, 14, pp. 24-32
  • Klock, S.C., Covington, S.N., Results of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 among gestational surrogacy candidates (2015) International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 130, pp. 257-260
  • Knoche, J.W., Health concerns and ethical considerations regarding international surrogacy (2014) International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 126, pp. 183-186
  • Krishnan, V., Attitudes toward surrogate motherhood in Canada (1994) Health Care for Women International, 15, pp. 333-357
  • Langdridge, D., Connolly, K., Sheeran, P., Reasons for wanting a child: A network analytic study (2000) Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 18, pp. 321-338
  • Lozanski, K., Transnational surrogacy: Canada's contradictions (2015) Social Science & Medicine, 124, pp. 383-390
  • MacCallum, F., Lycett, E., Murray, C., Jadva, V., Golombok, S., Surrogacy: The experience of commissioning couples (2003) Human Reproduction, 18, pp. 1334-1342
  • Markens, S., The global reproductive health market: US media framings and public discourses about transnational surrogacy (2012) Social Science & Medicine, 74, pp. 1745-1753
  • Mitchell, V., Green, R.J., Different storks for different folks: Gay and lesbian parents’ experiences with alternative insemination and surrogacy (2008) Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 3, pp. 81-104
  • Moya-Albiol, L., Ruiz-Robledillo, N., Aspectos psicológicos en el proceso de gestación por sustitución: gestante y padres de intención (2015), Ponencia presentada en el curso “Familia y gestación por sustitución: un enfoque multidisciplinar” Madrid, Spain
  • Murphy, M., Jones, D., Hallam, Z., Martin, R., Hakin, R., van den Akker, O., Infertility in focus: How far would you go? (2002) Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 20, p. 192
  • Nakash, A., Herdiman, J., Surrogacy (2007) Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 27, pp. 246-251
  • Norton, W., Hudson, N., Culley, L., Gay men seeking surrogacy to achieve parenthood (2013) Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 27, pp. 271-279
  • Poote, A.E., van den Akker, O.B., British women's attitudes to surrogacy (2009) Human Reproduction, 24, pp. 139-145
  • Recommendations for practices utilizing gestational carriers: An ASRM Practice Committee guideline (2012) Fertility and Sterility, 97, pp. 1301-1308
  • Ragoné, H., Surrogate motherhood. Conception in the heart (1994), Westview Boulder
  • Ramskold, L.A.H., Posner, M.P., Commercial surrogacy: How provisions of monetary remuneration and powers of international law can prevent exploitation of gestational surrogates (2013) Journal of Medical Ethics, 39, pp. 397-402
  • Readings, J., Blake, L., Casey, P., Jadva, V., Golombok, S., Secrecy, disclosure and everything in-between: Decisions of parents of children conceived by donor insemination, egg donation and surrogacy (2011) Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 22, pp. 485-495
  • Ressler, I.B., Bessett, D., Sroga, J.M., Rompola, S., Thomas, M.A., Lindheim, S.R., Perspectives among gay male couples choosing fatherhood using assisted reproduction (2011) Fertility and Sterility, 96, p. S15
  • Riggs, D.W., Due, C., Gay fathers’ reproductive journeys and parenting experiences: A review of research (2014) Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 40, pp. 289-293
  • Roberts, E.F., Examining surrogacy discourses: Between feminine power and exploitation (1998) Small wars: The cultural politics of childhood, pp. 93-110
  • Strah, D., Gay dads: A celebration of fatherhood (2003), Tarcher
  • Suzuki, K., Hoshi, K., Minai, J., Yanaihara, T., Takeda, Y., Yamagata, Z., Analysis of national representative opinion surveys concerning gestational surrogacy in Japan (2006) European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 126, pp. 39-47
  • Suzuki, K., Sawa, R., Muto, K., Kusuda, S., Banno, K., Yamagata, Z., Risk perception of pregnancy promotes disapproval of gestational surrogacy: Analysis of a nationally representative opinion survey in Japan (2011) International Journal of Fertility & Sterility, 5, p. 78
  • 1van den Akker, O., The importance of a genetic link in mothers commissioning a surrogate baby in the UK (2000) Human Reproduction, 15, pp. 1849-1855
  • van den Akker, O., Genetic and gestational surrogate mothers’ experience of surrogacy (2003) Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 21, pp. 145-161
  • van den Akker, O., Psychosocial aspects of surrogate motherhood (2007) Human Reproduction Update, 13, pp. 53-62
  • van den Akker, O., Surrogate motherhood: A critical perspective (2010) Expert Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 5, pp. 5-7
  • Weiss, G.L., Public attitudes about surrogate motherhood (1992) Michigan Sociological Review, 6, pp. 15-27
  • Ziv, I., Freund-Eschar, Y., The pregnancy experience of gay couples expecting a child through overseas surrogacy (2014) The Family Journal, 23, pp. 158-166
Data source: Dialnet