A Psychological Analysis of Iranian Infertile Couples' Attitudes Toward Gestational Surrogacy: A Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims In the last two decades, assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), such as surrogacy, have helped couples address infertility. However, the use of these techniques can present moral, social, and psychological challenges for both the infertile parents and the surrogate m...

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Main Authors: Masoumeh Esmaeilivand, Arezoo Haseli, Alirez Karampour, Alireza Khatony, Shahab Rezaeian, Amirhossein Naghibzadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Mohammadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Health Science Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70450
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author Masoumeh Esmaeilivand
Arezoo Haseli
Alirez Karampour
Alireza Khatony
Shahab Rezaeian
Amirhossein Naghibzadeh
Mohammad Mehdi Mohammadi
author_facet Masoumeh Esmaeilivand
Arezoo Haseli
Alirez Karampour
Alireza Khatony
Shahab Rezaeian
Amirhossein Naghibzadeh
Mohammad Mehdi Mohammadi
author_sort Masoumeh Esmaeilivand
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background and Aims In the last two decades, assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), such as surrogacy, have helped couples address infertility. However, the use of these techniques can present moral, social, and psychological challenges for both the infertile parents and the surrogate mother. Therefore, this study investigates the attitudes of infertile couples toward surrogacy and the associated challenges. Methods This cross‐sectional survey was conducted on 176 infertile couples. Data were collected using a bifurcated questionnaire that assessed the challenges and concerns of infertile couples regarding surrogacy. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 statistical software. Results The average attitude score toward surrogacy was 92.93 ± 4.89, with no significant differences between females and males. The results of the five distinct subscales indicated that with increasing education levels, intentional attitudes and future perspectives on surrogacy decreased (b = −0.59, p = 0.02) and the score for children born through surrogacy decreased significantly (b = −0.60, p = 0.04). Additionally, there was a significant relationship between the history of ART and the overall acceptance of surrogacy (b = 1.6, p = 0.002). Conclusion These findings are important as they highlight the attitudes of infertile couples in Iranian society toward surrogacy. It appears that providing adequate education to society will significantly facilitate the optimal use of this treatment method.
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spelling doaj-art-e271c755e0264333a7ebd63a9db8a3db2025-08-20T02:55:06ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-02-0182n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70450A Psychological Analysis of Iranian Infertile Couples' Attitudes Toward Gestational Surrogacy: A Cross‐Sectional StudyMasoumeh Esmaeilivand0Arezoo Haseli1Alirez Karampour2Alireza Khatony3Shahab Rezaeian4Amirhossein Naghibzadeh5Mohammad Mehdi Mohammadi6Family Health and Population Growth Research Center, Health Institute Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah IranFamily Health and Population Growth Research Center, Health Institute Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah IranDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah IranSocial Development and Health Promotion Research Center Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah IranSchool of Health Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah IranStudent Research Committee Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah IranDepartment of Medical‐Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah IranABSTRACT Background and Aims In the last two decades, assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), such as surrogacy, have helped couples address infertility. However, the use of these techniques can present moral, social, and psychological challenges for both the infertile parents and the surrogate mother. Therefore, this study investigates the attitudes of infertile couples toward surrogacy and the associated challenges. Methods This cross‐sectional survey was conducted on 176 infertile couples. Data were collected using a bifurcated questionnaire that assessed the challenges and concerns of infertile couples regarding surrogacy. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 statistical software. Results The average attitude score toward surrogacy was 92.93 ± 4.89, with no significant differences between females and males. The results of the five distinct subscales indicated that with increasing education levels, intentional attitudes and future perspectives on surrogacy decreased (b = −0.59, p = 0.02) and the score for children born through surrogacy decreased significantly (b = −0.60, p = 0.04). Additionally, there was a significant relationship between the history of ART and the overall acceptance of surrogacy (b = 1.6, p = 0.002). Conclusion These findings are important as they highlight the attitudes of infertile couples in Iranian society toward surrogacy. It appears that providing adequate education to society will significantly facilitate the optimal use of this treatment method.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70450assisted reproductive technologyattitudegestational surrogacyinfertility
spellingShingle Masoumeh Esmaeilivand
Arezoo Haseli
Alirez Karampour
Alireza Khatony
Shahab Rezaeian
Amirhossein Naghibzadeh
Mohammad Mehdi Mohammadi
A Psychological Analysis of Iranian Infertile Couples' Attitudes Toward Gestational Surrogacy: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Health Science Reports
assisted reproductive technology
attitude
gestational surrogacy
infertility
title A Psychological Analysis of Iranian Infertile Couples' Attitudes Toward Gestational Surrogacy: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_full A Psychological Analysis of Iranian Infertile Couples' Attitudes Toward Gestational Surrogacy: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_fullStr A Psychological Analysis of Iranian Infertile Couples' Attitudes Toward Gestational Surrogacy: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed A Psychological Analysis of Iranian Infertile Couples' Attitudes Toward Gestational Surrogacy: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_short A Psychological Analysis of Iranian Infertile Couples' Attitudes Toward Gestational Surrogacy: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_sort psychological analysis of iranian infertile couples attitudes toward gestational surrogacy a cross sectional study
topic assisted reproductive technology
attitude
gestational surrogacy
infertility
url https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70450
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