Fertility and Sterility
Volume 90, Issue 3 , Pages 506-512, September 2008

Support for embryonic stem cell research among infertility patients

  • Tarun Jain, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Tarun Jain, M.D., Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Illinois at Chicago, 820 South Wood Street, M/C 808, Chicago, IL 60612 (FAX: 312-996-4238).
    • ,
  • Stacey A. Missmer, Sc.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
    • Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
    • Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

Received 6 March 2007; received in revised form 9 July 2007; accepted 10 July 2007. published online 28 April 2008.

Objective

To determine the opinions among infertility patients regarding embryonic stem cell research and to investigate the relationship between patients' choice and their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Design

Cross-sectional, self-administered survey.

Setting

University hospital–based fertility center.

Patient(s)

A total of 1,350 consecutive women who presented for infertility care.

Intervention(s)

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Patient opinion regarding embryonic stem cell research, and correlations to their demographic and socioeconomic background.

Result(s)

Of respondents with a definitive opinion, 73% felt that the use of left-over embryos for stem cell research should be allowed. After adjustment for observed predictors favoring embryonic stem cell research, we found significantly lower support for such research among patients who were younger, African American, Hispanic, less wealthy, Protestant, single, or trying to conceive for a longer duration. Those who in the past had or were currently undergoing assisted reproductive techniques were significantly more likely to approve, whereas reproductive history was not associated with the opinions about the use of spare embryos for stem cell research.

Conclusion(s)

The majority of infertility patients studied favor use of left-over embryos for stem cell research. Several demographic and socioeconomic factors, however, are significantly associated with patient opinion.

Key Words: Stem cell research, IVF, ART, embryos, cryopreservation, infertility, ethics

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PII: S0015-0282(07)02948-2

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.07.1311

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 90, Issue 3 , Pages 506-512, September 2008

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