Assisted reproduction in a cohort of same-sex male couples and single men

To date, there is limited published data on same-sex male couples and single men using assisted reproduction treatment to build their families. The objective of this retrospective study was to better understand treatment considerations and outcomes for this population when using assisted reproduction treatment. A total of 37 same-sex male couples and eight single men (seven homosexual and one heterosexual) who attended the CReATe Fertility Centre for assisted reproduction services were studied. There was a 21-fold increase in the number of same-sex male couples and single men undergoing assisted reproduction treatment since 2003. The mean age was 46 years (24–58). Twenty-eight couples (76%) chose to use spermatozoa from both partners to fertilize their donated oocytes. Most men (32 same-sex male couples and seven single men; 87%) obtained oocytes from an anonymous donor, whereas five couples and one single man (13%) had a known donor. Anonymous donors who were open to be contacted by the child after the age of 18 were selected by 67% of patients. Of all 25 deliveries, eight (32%) were sets of twins. All of the twins were half genetic siblings.There is a lot of information known on the needs and options of lesbians seeking parenthood; however, data is limited on the needs and challenges that gay men face. The goal of this study is to better understand the demographics, treatment considerations and outcomes of gay men choosing to have children with the help of fertility treatment. This is a retrospective study of same-sex male couples or single men that have attended our clinic over the past 9 years. Since 2003, 37 same-sex male couples and eight single men (seven homosexual and one heterosexual) have attended the clinic in order to have children. There was a large increase in the number of same-sex couples or single men attending the clinic from 2003–2006 to 2007–2011. The men’s age range was 24–58 years, with an average of 46 years. Most of the same-sex male couples who attended the clinic chose to use spermatozoa from both partners. We found that the majority of the couples in this study were successful in their goal to have children with the help of fertility treatment.     

Reflections on having children in the future—interviews with highly educated women and men without children

Abstract

Background. There is a trend to delay birth of the first child until the age at which female reproductive capacity has started to decrease. The aim of the present study was to explore how highly educated women and men reflected on future parenthood.

Methods. Twenty-two women and 18 men, who had started their professional career, were subjected to individual qualitative semi-structured interviews with qualitative content analysis guiding the analysis.

Results. All informants, except for three women, planned to have children when some important prerequisites were fulfilled. Women and men reflected in much the same way, and prerequisites for parenthood were being of reasonable age and having a partner in the same phase of life. A reasonable age was considered in relation to reproductive capacity, and both women and men expressed awareness of the natural decline in fertility at higher ages. Good living conditions with stable finances were also important. Parenthood was perceived as a challenge and a sacrifice but also as enriching life. Reasons for having children included being part of the future and settling down to build their own family. Many concluded that there would never be a perfect time for having children.

Conclusion. Highly educated women and men reflect on various factors when considering family planning. Being of reasonable age and having good living conditions, in particular a sound personal economy, were important. Given their goals, it is not surprising that many postpone parenthood until ages when female reproductive capacity is decreased.     

Why Parenthood,and Why Now? Gay Men's Motivations for Pursuing Parenthood

The current qualitative study of 35 preadoptive gay male couples (70 men) examined gay men's motivations to parent and their reasons for pursuing parenthood at the current time. Similar to heterosexual couples, gay men described a range of psychologically oriented reasons as shaping their decision to become parents. Some of these (e.g., desire to teach a child tolerance) may have been uniquely shaped by their sexual minority status, and others (e.g., desire to give a child a good home) in part reflect their adoptive status. Men named age, finances, and relationship factors, as well as unique contextual factors such as the need to find and move to gay‐friendly neighborhoods, as influencing their readiness to pursue parenthood at the current time. Gay men's motivations to parent echo normative life course decision‐making processes, but also reflect concerns that are uniquely informed by their sexual minority status.     

Mothers’ and fathers’ attachment and caregiving representations during transition to parenthood: an actor–partner approach

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of one’s attachment representations on one’s and the partner’s caregiving representations.

Background: According to attachment theory, individual differences in parenting and caregiving behaviours may be a function of parents’ caregiving representations of the self as caregiver, and of others as worthy of care, which are rooted on parents’ attachment representations. Furthermore, the care-seeking and caregiving interactions that occur within the couple relationship may also shape individuals’ caregiving representations.

Methods: The sample comprised 286 cohabiting couples who were assessed during pregnancy (attachment representations) and one month post-birth (caregiving representations). Path analyses were used to examine effects among variables.

Results: Results showed that for mothers and fathers, their own more insecure attachment representations predicted their less positive caregiving representations of the self as caregiver and of others as worthy of help and more self-focused motivations for caregiving. Moreover, fathers’ attachment representations were found to predict mothers’ caregiving representations of themselves as caregivers.

Conclusions: Secure attachment representations of both members of the couple seem to be an inner resource promoting parents’ positive representations of caregiving, and should be assessed and fostered during the transition to parenthood in both members of the couple.     

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: Choosing the “Good Enough” Child

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) raises serious moral questions concerning the parent-child relationship. Good parents accept their children unconditionally: they do not reject/attack them because they do not have the features they want. There is nothing wrong with treating a child as someone who can help promote some other worthwhile end, providing the child is also respected as an end in him or herself. However, if the child's presence is not valued in itself, regardless of any further benefits it brings, the child is not being treated as an end in the full sense of the term, in this paper, I argue that these principles apply to human embryos, as well as to born human offspring: the human moral subject is a bodily being, whose interests and rights begin with the onset of his or her bodily life. The rights of the living, bodily human individual include a righ not to be attacked/abandoned because of his or her genetic profile. PGD is harmful to the parent-child relationship, and we give mixed messages to parents by expecting them to show unconditional commitment to offspring after birth, while inviting them to take a very different approach at the prenatal stage.     

Smooth Versus Rocky Transitions to Parenthood: Family Systems in Developmental Context

Using family systems theory and a dyadic growth curve, the authors examined factors associated with a smooth versus rocky transition to parenthood for 125 couples. The authors identified significant variability in couples' experiences. Although many parents reported declines in love and increases in conflict, 23% of mothers and 37% of fathers reported equal or increased love; 20% of mothers and 28% of fathers reported equal or lower conflict. Fathers of reactive infants reported higher levels of conflict, and fathers of daughters reported increasing conflict over time. Fathers' marital love decreased when their expectations were violated, and fathers' conflict increased when mothers reported violated expectations. Finally, mothers' marital conflict increased with greater changes in depressive symptoms. Despite potential gender differences, within‐couple analyses showed synchrony between partners suggesting that potential gender differences may be best treated within the couple.     

Sexuality,Parenthood, and Cognitive Disability in Brazil

This article will review the different methods used to control the sexuality and fertility of Brazilian women with cognitive disabilities throughout the twentieth century, and how practices such as eugenic sterilization, institutionalization, and other repressive measures of social control grew out of cultural notions of gender, race, class, sexuality, and disability. The article will first outline eugenics practices and the vulnerability of women with cognitive disabilities in the United States and Europe. It will then trace the historical treatment of Brazilian women with cognitive disabilities. Finally, it will describe modern cultural perceptions and practices related to the sexuality and fertility of Brazilian women with cognitive disabilities.     

社区健康教育与健康促进工作模式的研究

目的探索社区健康服务中心健康教育与健康促进最佳模式。方法运用前瞻性的研究方法,将居住人群作为应该接受健教人数,随机分配给单纯组和联合组,进行健康知识讲座。将两组居民参加健康知识讲座的听课率和健康知识的知晓率进行比较,对娱乐场所的特殊人群进行健康知识教育,并调查他们在健教前后的生殖健康状况,将统计资料输入统计软件,进行χ2检验,分析两者对健康教育与健康促进的效果。结果联合型接受健康教育的人数和居民掌握保健知识的知晓率均比单纯型的高,P<0.05。娱乐场所特殊人群生殖健康明显提高,P<0.01。结论社区健康服务中心联合社区计划生育部门所进行社区居民的健康教育与健康促进的模式可体现卫生资源共享,把有限的资源发挥到极限的作用,营造卫生、计生、居民三赢的良好局面。