Assisted Reproduction

Tipos de ansiedad de parejas tratadas con fecundación asistida frente a la donación hipotética de embriones para investigación en una clínica privada en …

by Jorge Alberto Álvarez-Díaz

Tipos de ansiedad de las parejas tratadas con fertilización asistida frente a la donación hipotética de embriones en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile

by Jorge Alberto Álvarez-Díaz

Erweiterte Fallstudien zu Verwandtschaft und Reproduktionstechnologien. Potenziale einer Ethnografie von Normalisierungsprozessen

by Stefan Beck

Co-authored with Michi Knecht, Maren Klotz, Nurhak Polat;
In: Zeitschrift für Volkskunde, 107, 2011/1, pp. 21–47

Natural versus Assisted Reproduction. In Search of Fairness

by Daniela Cutas

Co-authored with Lisa Bortolotti, in Studies in Ethics, Law and Technology 2010; 4; 1

In this paper, we are concerned with the ethical implications of the distinction between natural reproduction (via... more In this paper, we are concerned with the ethical implications of the distinction between natural reproduction (via sexual intercourse) and reproduction that requires assistance (either medical or social). We argue that the current practice of enforcing regulations on the latter but not on the former means of reproduction is ethically unjustified. It is not defensible to tolerate parental ignorance or abuse in natural reproduction and subsequently in natural parenting, whilst submitting assisted reproduction and parenting to invasive scrutiny. Our proposal is to guarantee equal (ethical and legal) treatment to people engaging in either form of reproduction or parenting.

The indirect effect of contextual factors on the emotional distress of infertile couples

by Mariana Moura Ramos

Few studies were dedicated to study the role of contextual factors, such as the socioeconomic status and urban or... more Few studies were dedicated to study the role of contextual factors, such as the socioeconomic status and urban or rural residence in emotional distress of infertile couples. This study aimed to explore the impact of contextual factors on emotional distress, either directly or by affecting the importance of parenthood in one's life, which in turn affects emotional distress. In this cross-sectional study, 70 couples recruited during hormonal stimulation phase prior to in vitro fertilisation completed clinical and sociodemographic forms and self-report questionnaires assessing representations about the importance of parenthood and emotional distress. Path analysis using structural equation modelling was used to examine direct and indirect effects among variables. Results indicated that socioeconomic status and place of residence had an impact in emotional distress by affecting the representations about the importance of parenthood in one's life. Gender differences were found regarding model paths, suggesting that the social context may have a stronger influence on women's emotional distress than on their partners’ distress. When delineating psychological interventions, health care providers should consider that cultural values about children and parenthood contribute to shape the infertility experience.

Natural versus Assisted Reproduction. In Search of Fairness.

by Lisa Bortolotti

co-authored with Daniela Cutas and published in Studies in Ethics, Law and Technology, 2010

Whilst the choice of becoming a parent in the natural way is unregulated all over Europe (and proposals of regulation... more Whilst the choice of becoming a parent in the natural way is unregulated all over Europe (and proposals of regulation raise vehement objections), most European countries have (either legal or professional) regulations imposing criteria that people must satisfy if they wish to gain access to assisted reproduction and parenting. These criteria may include relationship status, age, sexual orientation, financial stability, health, and willingness to attend parenting classes. The existence of regulations in this area is largely accepted, and the objections raised usually concern the suitability of specific criteria rather than the legitimacy of imposing criteria at all. The inequality (if unsupported) could be solved by requiring both prospective natural and assisted parents to satisfy the same criteria (with some qualifications specified below) and, more importantly, to be subject to the same degree of monitoring, regardless of the way in which they became parents. 

Often people argue that proposals to regulate natural reproduction revive dreaded eugenic policies of the past, and that their implementation would violate some of our most cherished interests and rights: in particular the interest in becoming a parent and the right to reproduction and parenting. However, the same interests and rights are not equally safeguarded when one needs assistance to become a parent, and proposals to reduce the extent to which prospective parents requiring assistance are scrutinized are unpopular.

In this paper we challenge the alleged justification of the current practices, and we show that there are serious inconsistencies in the treatment of, respectively, people who become parents naturally and people who require assistance to become parents. Thus, we propose that regulation of reproduction and parenting be revised in such a way as to eliminate the inconsistencies.