Infertile women's perceptions of the risks and benefits of new reproductive technologies

Abstract

There has been an increasing social awareness and concern about the medical risks associated with new reproductive technologies (NRTs), however, little research has been done to investigate the long term implications of their uses. From a feminist perspective women must be able to have a say in the evaluation of NRTs because they are the ones who generally participate in these interventions and they and their children are the ones who must ultimately bear the risks. The aim of this study was to document and analyse women's self reported experiences and perceptions of infertility and NRTs. Using a qualitative methodology, 19 women were interviewed who had, or who were, experiencing problems with fertility. The results of this study suggest that motherhood represents physical, psychological and social completeness and fulfilment for women and that this mirrors current ideologies of motherhood. Although the study revealed some commonalties amongst the interviewees experiences and perceptions, there was also a lot of variability in their understandings and responses to infertility, owing to differences in circumstances and beliefs. The interviewed women's perceptions of the risks and benefits of NRTs were broader than medical descriptions and included personal and social factors. Initially many of the women were not concerned with the medical risks of participating in NRTs, but as they progressed through treatments they became increasingly aware of the medical, emotional and financial risks of continuing with them. Most women were not adequately informed about the medical risks associated with NRTs and the findings of this study suggest several reasons for this. The study highlights the need for the provision of up-to-date, easily understood information for women to discuss and evaluate. In addition, further long term follow-up studies are needed to investigate the experiences and perceptions of women who have participated in NRTs to obtain a fuller and more accurate estimation of risks and benefits attributable to the procedures over time. Policy recommendations based on the self-reports are made.