Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T02:39:57.596Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 12 - Special Considerations in Gestational Surrogacy Assessments and Arrangements

from III - Third Party Reproduction: Assessment and Preparation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2022

Sharon N. Covington
Affiliation:
Shady Grove Fertility, Rockville, MD
Get access

Summary

Gestational surrogacy arrangements have been documented throughout history, but more recent technological advances in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have made it possible for a woman, referred to as a gestational carrier (GC), to gestate and give birth to a child that is not genetically related to her on behalf of the intended parents (IPs) who are to be the legal, rearing parents. This chapter considers the multifaceted role of the fertility counselor, as well as both the complexity of these arrangements and issues of competence in fertility counseling. It moves beyond a “how to” guide and addresses the delicate balance of a multitude of psychological and ethical factors that the fertility counselor must consider for all parties involved. The assessment process, facilitated by the fertility counselor, aids in helping all participants in these arrangements make sound decisions. Fertility counselors provide accurate information to all parties, facilitate relationships between parties, and create a basis for informed consent. Thus, how these arrangements and relationships are facilitated become crucial in their success. Due to the number of participants in these arrangements and the competing vulnerabilities and needs of each, there is a vital role for the fertility counselor in surrogacy screenings.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Society for Reproductive Medicine Ethics Committee. Considerations of the gestational carrier: an Ethics Committee Opinion. Fertil Steril 2018;110(6):10171021.Google Scholar
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Assisted reproductive technology national summary report. 2019. Available at: www.cdc.gov/art/pdf/2016-national-summary-slides/ART_2016_graphs_and_charts.pdf [last accessed June 16, 2022].Google Scholar
Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. IVF Success: 2019 preliminary national data. 2019. Available at: www.sartcorsonline.com/rptCSR_PublicMultYear.aspx?reportingYear=2019 [last accessed June 16, 2022].Google Scholar
Kim, HH. Selecting the optimal gestational carrier: medical, reproductive, and ethical considerations. Fertil Steril 2020;113(5):892896.Google Scholar
Simpson, TH, Hanafin, H. Counseling surrogate carrier participants. In: Covington, SN, Ed. Fertility Counseling: Clinical Guide and Case Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015, 122135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klock, SC, Lindheim, SR. Gestational surrogacy: medical, psychosocial, and legal considerations. Fertil Steril 2020;113(5):889891.Google Scholar
American Society for Reproductive Medicine Practice Committee. Recommendations for practices utilizing gestational carriers: an ASRM Practice Committee guideline. Fertil Steril 2017;107:e3e10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shenfield, F, Pennings, G, Cohen, J, Devroey, P, de Wert, G, Tarlatzis, B. Task, ESHRE Force on Ethics and Law: Surrogacy. Hum Reprod 2005;20(10):27052707.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Braverman, AM. Mental health counseling in third-party reproduction in the United States: evaluation, psychoeducation, or ethical gatekeeping? Fertil Steril 2015;104:501506.Google Scholar
Practice Committee and the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Guidance on qualifications for fertility counselors: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril 2021;115(6):1411–1415.Google Scholar
Schwartz, LL. Psychological and legal perspectives on surrogate motherhood. Am J Fam Ther 1991;19:363366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanafin, H. Surrogacy and gestational carrier participants. In: Covington, SN, Hammer-Burns, L., Eds. Infertility Counseling: A Comprehensive Handbook for Clinicians, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006, 370386.Google Scholar
Hanley, R. Father of Baby M thought mother had been screened. New York Times [Internet]. January 14, 1987 [cited January 15, 2020]: B1. Available from: www.nytimes.com/1987/01/14/nyregion/father-of-baby-m-thought-mother-had-been-screened.html [last accessed June 16, 2022].Google Scholar
Riddle, MP. Psychological assessment of gestational carrier candidates: current approaches, challenges, and future considerations. Fertil Steril 2020a;113(5):897902.Google Scholar
Riddle, MP. The psychological impact of surrogacy on the families of gestational surrogates: implications for clinical practice. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2020b (online). https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2020.1814729Google Scholar
Riddle, MP, Jenkins, SR. Clinical considerations in the psychological assessment of gestational surrogates: uses of narrative assessment. Hum Fertil 2020 (online). https://doi.org/10.1080/14647273.2020.1778802CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butcher, JN, Ed. Clinical Personality Assessment: Practical Approaches. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1995.Google Scholar
Blyth, E. “I wanted to be interesting. I wanted to be able to say that ‘I’ve done something interesting in my life’”: interviews with surrogate mothers in Britain. J Reprod Infant Psychol 1994;12:189198.Google Scholar
Ciccarelli, JC, Beckman, LI. Navigating rough waters: an overview of psychological aspects of surrogacy. J Soc Issues 2005;61:2143.Google Scholar
Jadva, V, Murray, C, Lycette, E, MacCallum, F, Golombok, S. Surrogacy: the experiences of surrogate mothers. Hum Reprod 2003;18:21962204.Google Scholar
Van den Akker, O. Genetic and gestational surrogate mothers’ experience of surrogacy. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2003;21:145161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klock, SC, Covington, SN. Results of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 among gestational surrogacy candidates. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2015;130:257260.Google Scholar
Berend, Z. Surrogate losses: failed conception and pregnancy loss among American surrogate mothers. In Komaromy, C, Ed. Understanding Reproductive Loss: Perspectives on Life, Death, and Fertility. Abingdon: Taylor and Francis, 2012, 93104.Google Scholar
Soderstrom-Antilla, V, Wennerholm, UB, Loft, A, et al. Surrogacy: outcomes for surrogate mothers, children, and the resulting families – a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update 2016;22:260276.Google Scholar
Jadva, V, Imrie, S. Children of surrogate mothers: psychological well-being, family relationships and experiences of surrogacy. Hum Reprod 2014;29:9096.Google Scholar
Riddle, M. An investigation into the psychological well-being of the biological children of surrogates. Cogent Psychology 2017;4:1305035.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×