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bioRxiv · 10.1101/328229

A survey of public attitudes towards third-party reproduction in Japan in 2014

Yamamoto, N.·Hirata, T.·Izumi, G.·Nakazawa, A.·Fukuda, S.·Neriishi, K.·Arakawa, T.·Takamura, M.·Harada, M.·Hirota, Y.·Koga, K.·Wada-Hiraike, O.·Fujii, T.·Irahara, M.·Osuga, Y.
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Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine public attitudes towards third-party reproduction and the disclosure of conception through third-party reproduction.\n\nMethods: We conducted the web-based survey for the public attitude towards third-party reproduction in February 2014. Twenty-five hundred people were recruited with equal segregation of age (20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s) and gender. We analyzed the association between gender, age, infertility, and ethical view using a questionnaire regarding donor sperm, donor oocyte, donor embryo, gestational surrogacy, and disclosure to offspring.\n\nResults: Of the respondents, 36.2% approved and 26.6% disapproved with gamete or embryo donation. The frequency of those who approved was the lowest in females in the 50-59 years age group, and was significantly higher in males or females with infertility. Secondly, 40.9% approved and 21.8% disapproved with gestational surrogacy. The frequency of those who approved gestational surrogacy was higher in males or females with infertility. Thirdly, 46.3% of respondents agreed and 20.4% disagreed with \"offspring have the right to know their origin\". Those who disagreed were primarily in the 50-59 age group of both genders, and disagreement was significantly higher in the infertility group compared with non-infertility group.\n\nConclusion: In this study, public attitudes were affected by gender, age, and experience of infertility. These study findings are important in understanding the attitude towards third-party reproduction and disclosure to the offspring. Respondents having indecisive attitudes were >30%, which might indicate an increased requirement for information and education to enhance the discussion on the ethical consensus on third-party reproduction in Japan.

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Yamamoto, N., Hirata, T., Izumi, G., Nakazawa, A., Fukuda, S., Neriishi, K., Arakawa, T., Takamura, M., Harada, M., Hirota, Y., Koga, K., Wada-Hiraike, O., Fujii, T., Irahara, M., Osuga, Y.. 2018-05-22. A survey of public attitudes towards third-party reproduction in Japan in 2014. https://doi.org/10.1101/328229

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