Psychological Aspects of Surrogate Motherhood

Fazli Khalaf, Zahra; Shafiabadi, Abdollah; Tarahomi, Madjid

Psychological Aspects of Surrogate Motherhood

Vol. 9, Issue 1, / April-June 2008
(pages 43-49)

Zahra Fazli Khalaf: - Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
Abdollah Shafiabadi: - Department of Counseling, School of Psychology & Training Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran
Madjid Tarahomi: - Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

Received: 4/1/2008 Accepted: 4/1/2008 - Publisher : Avicenna Research Institute

Other Format

Abstract

Introduction: Surrogacy is a treatment option available to women with medical problems, including mal-formations of uterus, like mullerian agenesis, to help them have their own genetic children. The indications for this infertility treatment option include absent uterus, recurrent abortions, repeated IVF failures and some other medical conditions. With regards to the effects of this approach on patients’ lives, it is necessary to evaluate the psychological and social aspects of surrogate motherhood. The purpose of this study is to review the results of researches done on surrogacy, experiences of surrogate mothers and the effect of this method on their marital and social relationships and their psychological health.Materials & Methods: This article is a literature review of articles published from 1990 to 2007.Results: It has been suggested that relinquishing the child may be extremely distressing and may result in psychological problems for surrogate mothers. It has also been feared that the surrogate mother may prenatally form a bond with the baby that would make it particularly difficult for her to hand over the child to the commissioning parents. For those women who do relinquish the child, the risk of post-natal depression, as well as feelings of anger or guilt, may add further strain to the woman's psychological health. Such that woman may enter into surrogacy arrangements because of financial hardship without being fully aware of its potential risks. Other concerns relating to surrogacy include the impact on the surrogate mother's partner, her parents or any existing children, and its destabilizing effects on her family integrity. On the other hand, case series that have explored the experiences of surrogates and commis-sioners, have not noted any substantial psychological problems and surrogates have not experienced a higher than average postpartum depression rate. By a comprehensive and precise consultation and support of an expert team, many of these surrogate mothers could experience this period positively. Conclusion: Surrogate pregnancy should be treated as a high-risk psychological experience. In addition, it is recommended that surrogates receive professional counseling before, during and after pregnancy.

Keywords: Surrogacy, Surrogate Mother, Psychological experiences, Infertility counseling, Assisted Reproductive Techniques

To cite this article:

Fazli Khalaf Z, Shafiabadi A, Tarahomi M. Psychological Aspects of Surrogate Motherhood. J Reprod Infertil. 2008;9(1):43-49.

References

Hibino A, Nagata M. Biotechnology in the Japanese media: comparative analysisof newspaperarticles on genetic engineering in Japan and Europe. Asian J Soc Psychol. 2006;18(10):12-23.
Jadva V, Murray C, Lycett E, MacCallum F. Surroga-cy: the experiences of surrogate mothers. Hum Reprod. 2003;18:2196-204. [PubMed]
Golombok S, Murray C, Jadva V, MacCallum F, Lycett E. Families created through surrogacy arrangements: Parent- Child relationship in the 1st year of life. Dev Psychol. 2004;40(3):400-11. [PubMed]
Brinsden PR. Gestational surrogacy. Hum Reprod Update. 2003;9:483-91. [PubMed]
Shenfield F, Pennings G, Cohen J, Devroey P, Wert G.de, Tarlatzis B. Task force on ethics and law 10: Surrogacy. Hum Reprod. 2005;20(10):2705-07. [PubMed]
Chilaoutakis J, Koukouli S, Papadakaki M. Using atti-tudinal indicators to explain the public's intention to have recourse to gamete donation and surrogacy. Hum Reprod. 2002;17:2995-3002. [PubMed]
Ciccarelli JC, Beckna, L. Navigating rough waters: an overview of psychological aspects of surrogacy. J Soc Issues. 2005;61(1)21-43. [PubMed]
British Medical Association, Changing conceptions of motherhood. The practice of surrogacy in Britain. Bri-tish Medical Association, London, 1996;p:46-8.
Blyth E. I wanted to be interesting. I wanted to be able to say “I've done something interesting with my life”: Interviews with surrogate mothers in Britain. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 1994;12:189-198.
Brazier M, Campbell A, Golombok S. Surrogacy: Review for health ministers of current arrangements for payments and regulation. Hum Reprod Update. 1997;3(6):623-8. [PubMed]
Ragone H. Surrogate Motherhood: Conception in the heart. Westview Press. Oxford. 1994;52-68.
Van Balen F, Inhorn MC. Infertility Around the Globe: New Thinking on Childlessness, Gender, and Reproductive Technologies, Berkely: University of California Press. 2002;p:3-32.
Van den Akker OBA. Genetic and gestational surro-gate mothers' experience of surrogacy. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2003;21(2):145-61.
Reilly Dan R. Surrogate pregnancy: a guide for Cana-dian prenatal health care providers. CMAJ. 2007;176 (4):483-5. [PubMed]
Ber R. Ethical issues in gestational surrogacy. Theor Med Bioeth. 2000;21:153-69. [PubMed]
Schwartz LL. A nightmare for King Solomon: the new reproductive technologies. J Fam Psychol. 2003;17: 229-37. [PubMed]
Reame NE. The surrogate mother as a high risk obs-tetrical patient. Womens Health Issues. 1991;1: 151-4. [PubMed]
Lester EP. A surrogate carries a fertilized ovum: multiple crossings in ego boundaries. Int J Psychoanal. 1995;76:325-34. [PubMed]
Jessee SS. Panel report infertility, surrogacy and the new reproductive techniques: psychoanalytic perspec-tives. Int J Psychoanal. 1996;77:129-33. [PubMed]
Krishnan V. Attitudes toward surrogate motherhood in Canada. Health Care Women Int. 1994;15:333-57. [PubMed]
Lasker JN, Murray DE.Attitudes toward technologies for conception: A 15-year follow-up. J Appl Psychol. 2001;31(10): 2165-83.
گرمارودي شيرين. بازانديشي خويشاوندي. بررسی رحم جایگزین از منظر پزشکی، حقوقی، فقهی، اخلاقی‌ـ فلسفی، روان شناختی، جامعه شناختی. انتشارات سمت و پژوهشکده ابن‌سینا. تهران (1386)، صفحات: 18-301.
MacCallum F, Lycett E, Murray C, Jadva V, Golom-bok S. The experience of commissioning couples. Hum Reprod. 2003;18:1335-42. [PubMed]
Van den Akker, O. B. A. Psychological aspects of surrogate motherhood. Hum Reprod Update. 2007;13 (1):53-62.
Duffy DA, Nulsen JC, Maier DB. Obstetrical compli-cations in gestational carrier pregnancies. Fertil Steril. 2005;83:749-54. [PubMed]
Soderstrom-Anttila V, Blomqvist T, Foudila T, Hippe-läinen M, Kurunmäki H, Siegberg R, et al. Experience of in vitro fertilization surrogacy in Finland. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2002;81:747-52. [PubMed]
Parkinson J, Tran C, Tan T. Perinatal outcome after in-vitro fertilization-surrogacy. Hum Reprod. 1999;14: 671-6. [PubMed]