Abstract
Research question
How do same-sex male couples (SSMC) and single men perceive their experience of using
assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Canada; what factors contribute to their
experience and the decisions made throughout the ART process?
Design
This cross-sectional study used an anonymous online survey to gather exploratory data
(between August 2018 and August 2019) about participant experience and decision-making
considerations, for SSMC and single men internationally who had undergone ART in Canada.
The survey was accessed by 145 individuals; 98 participants were included in the final
analysis. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for quantitative
analysis.
Results
Four out of five participants had a positive overall experience of using ART in Canada.
Having the social support of knowing others who had previously pursued ART, and needing
to work with multiple egg donors, were found to affect overall experience significantly.
Agencies were the most common way for intended parents to connect with third parties.
Major factors men considered when choosing an egg donor included medical history,
physical attributes, personality and temperament, ethnicity, and education; they tended
to select gestational surrogates who had similar lifestyle values to themselves. Most
coupled survey respondents created embryos using each partner's spermatozoa (73.6%).
Conclusions
This exploratory study expands on limited knowledge of the current topic, identifying
key areas for future research. Most SSMC and single men, domestic and internationally,
had a positive experience pursuing ART in Canada to have children. Research on the
experiences of SSMC and single men and decision-making considerations should continue.
KEYWORDS
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Biography
Shilini Hemalal completed her Bachelor of Arts and Science in 2017 at the University of Guelph, and her Master of Science in 2019 at the University of Toronto. She completed her thesis at CReATe Fertility Centre with Dr Librach. She is now studying in Australia to complete her Medical Doctorate.
Key message
Same-sex male couples and single men accessing assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Canada report a positive experience. Social support of men who pursued ART and worked with multiple egg donors significantly affected overall experience. Understanding the experiences of unique groups using ART can result in informed, inclusive reproductive healthcare practices.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 28, 2020
Accepted:
August 24,
2020
Received in revised form:
July 24,
2020
Received:
February 28,
2020
Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Reproductive Healthcare Ltd.
