Egg donation, surrogate mothering, and cloning: attitudes of men and women in Germany based on a representative survey
Received 6 November 2007; received in revised form 5 May 2008; accepted 5 May 2008. published online 05 August 2008.
Objective
To determine opinions and attitudes of the German general population toward the treatment methods of reproductive medicine: egg donation, surrogate mothering, and reproductive cloning.
Design
Representative survey.
Setting
German general population: face-to-face interviews at home with 2,110 persons, aged 18–50 years.
Patient(s)
Patients were not included.
Intervention(s)
No interventions took place.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Approval and disapproval of treatment methods of reproductive medicine and preimplantation genetic diagnosis were assessed by questionnaires regarding medical, age, reasons, or general.
Result(s)
Overall, the diverse treatment methods of reproductive medicine found comparable rates of approval and disapproval. Legalization of egg donation was approved by a slight majority (50.8%), particularly for medical reasons (35.9%). Surrogate mothering found lower overall rates of approval (43.7%), 28.5% supported an admission for medical reasons. Reproductive cloning was rejected by the vast majority (82.9%). Attitudes to reproductive medicine were affected by age and the individual reproductive experiences.
Conclusion(s)
New techniques in reproductive medicine and their development provide hope and health promises for affected couples but also entail long-term risks and ethical issues. Balancing the individual's right to a reproductive autonomy and choice and ethical standards will constitute a future challenge for society. Results demonstrate considerable uncertainty and information deficits in the community.
aDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
bClinic for Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Carl-Gustav-Carus, Dresden, Germany
cClinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Johannes-Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Reprint requests: Yve Stoebel-Richter, Ph.D., Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 55, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany (FAX: 49-341-9718809).
Y.S.-R. has nothing to disclose. S.G. has nothing to disclose. E.B. has nothing to disclose. K.W. has nothing to disclose. M.B. has nothing to disclose.
ABSTRACT