Attitudes toward Surrogacy amongst Iranian Fertile and Infertile Women

Abstract

Background: Surrogacy is a common form of assisted reproductive technology which only gestational
form is approved by most of the religious scholars in Iran. the aim of present study was to compare the
attitude of Iranian fertile and infertile women toward gestational surrogacy. Material and Methods: This
descriptive-comparative study was conducted at infertility and gynaecology clinics affiliated to Tabriz
University of Medical Sciences during 2008-2009. The study sample consisted of 238 infertile and 183
fertile women who were selected using the eligible sampling method. A validated self-reported
questionnaire containing 22 baseline items based on a five-point Likert scale was used. This
questionnaire is developed by researchers. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential
statistics. Results: There is significant difference between two groups in three subsections of the
questionnaire as fertile women reported more positive attitudes toward surrogacy than the infertile
women. Fertile women were significantly more likely to be willing to use the surrogacy (P<0.05). They
were more optimistic toward surrogate mothers and more agreement to recommending this method to
infertile couples (P<0.001). ). There is a consensus that surrogacy is not contrary to sharia, and both
groups believed that government should have regulations for surrogacy programs. Both groups
disagreed with the married surrogate mother. Infertile women more than the other group dissent that
commissioning couple are owners of baby (P<0.001).