Egg donation, surrogate mothering, and cloning: attitudes of men and women in Germany based on a representative survey.

OBJECTIVE

To determine opinions and attitudes of the German general population toward the treatment methods of reproductive medicine: egg donation, surrogate mothering, and reproductive cloning.

DESIGN

Representative survey.

SETTING

German general population: face-to-face interviews at home with 2,110 persons, aged 18-50 years.

PATIENT(S): Patients were not included.

INTERVENTION(S): No interventions took place.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Approval and disapproval of treatment methods of reproductive medicine and preimplantation genetic diagnosis were assessed by questionnaires regarding medical, age, reasons, or general.

RESULT(S): Overall, the diverse treatment methods of reproductive medicine found comparable rates of approval and disapproval. Legalization of egg donation was approved by a slight majority (50.8%), particularly for medical reasons (35.9%). Surrogate mothering found lower overall rates of approval (43.7%), 28.5% supported an admission for medical reasons. Reproductive cloning was rejected by the vast majority (82.9%). Attitudes to reproductive medicine were affected by age and the individual reproductive experiences.

CONCLUSION(S): New techniques in reproductive medicine and their development provide hope and health promises for affected couples but also entail long-term risks and ethical issues. Balancing the individual's right to a reproductive autonomy and choice and ethical standards will constitute a future challenge for society. Results demonstrate considerable uncertainty and information deficits in the community.