Donor insemination: a comparison of lesbian couples, heterosexual couples and single women.

OBJECTIVE

To compare single women, lesbian couples, and heterosexual couples receiving therapeutic donor insemination (TDI).

DESIGN

Chart review followed by anonymous mail questionnaires to donor insemination recipients and their partners.

SETTING

Infertility clinic in a university hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred fifteen women receiving donor insemination were identified by chart review.

RESULTS

Too few single women responded for reliable comparison. Lesbian women were similar to married women in age, education, duration, and outcome of donor insemination. When considering alternatives to TDI, married women were more likely to consider adoption and lesbians were most likely to consider using a known semen donor or having intercourse with a man aware of their desire to have a child. Married couples were less likely to tell others, including the child, about conception by donor insemination. They were also less likely to support disclosing identifying data about the donor to the child. Lesbians were more likely to report stress in their relationships as a result of TDI. Married men were most likely to support mandatory counseling before TDI initiation.