Screening of gestational carriers in the United States

Erika L. Fuchs, Abbey B. Berenson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To assess medical and psychosocial screening and evaluation received by gestational carriers and compare those using agencies to those not using agencies. Design Cross-sectional questionnaire. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) A total of 204 women who completed a survey on their experiences as gestational carriers in the United States. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Self-reported screening received before gestational carrier pregnancies. Result(s) Overall, 97.1% of gestational carriers had a complete medical evaluation and 94.6% had an evaluation or counseling by a mental health professional. Most participants indicated that they had been informed of at least some medical risks (92.6%) and psychological considerations (89.7%). Participants most often recalled being informed of the risks of multiple pregnancy (89.2%) and medical procedures and medications (87.2%), but least often recalled being informed about the risks of impact on their own employment (46.6%) and to their own children (61.3%). There were no differences in outcome measures between those using an agency and those who did not. Conclusion(s) Self-reported screening and evaluation was high, but still not 100% on all measures. Further education of providers regarding guidelines for the screening and evaluation of gestational carriers may be needed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1496-1502
Number of pages7
JournalFertility and Sterility
Volume106
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2016

Keywords

  • Gestational carrier
  • infertility
  • screening
  • surrogate

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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