October 23
,
2012
by: ASRM Office of Public Affairs
Published in ASRM Press Release
Note: All information is embargoed until the time of presentation at the meeting, unless otherwise indicated.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 68th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE
Embargoed for Release: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 – 5:15 PM Pacific Daylight TimeStudy Finds Ten Years After Being Gestational Carriers, Women and Families Doing Well
San Diego, CA -Researchers speaking at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine today unveiled a study showing that a decade after serving as gestational carriers, both the women who served as gestational carriers and their families were doing well and had positive feelings about the experience.
The investigators from the University of Cambridge interviewed and gave questionnaires to 26 surrogates, 8 of their partners and 28 of their children. They reported that the surrogates score above the normal range on self-esteem and within the normal range on depression, with 77% of the surrogates reporting no mental health issues at all.
Their families were also doing well. 86% of the surrogates and their partners scored above average for relationship quality, and very high percentages of both partners and children had positive views of surrogacy.
“Using a gestational carrier is an important treatment option for some patients seeking to build their families. Every physician has a unique physician patient relationship with the women serving as gestational carriers. It is important that this kind of long-term follow up study be done to help us better care for those patients. It is gratifying to see that a decade after they helped other families have children, gestational carriers and their families were psychologically healthy,” said Glenn Schattman, MD, President of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.
O-149 The Long-Term Psychological Health of Surrogate Mothers and Their Families
S. Imrie et al
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, founded in 1944, is an organization of more than 7,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology. Affiliated societies include the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Society of Reproductive Surgeons and the Society of Reproductive Biologists and Technologists.
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