Gay men choosing parenthood through assisted reproduction: medical and psychosocial considerations

ObjectiveTo medically and psychologically assess gay men seeking parenthood through assisted reproduction and to provide guidelines for the assessment.DesignQualitative observational study.SettingAcademic medical center.Patient(s)Thirty gay males (15 couples) presenting for assisted reproduction using an oocyte donor and a gestational carrier.Intervention(s)Semistructured interview and medical evaluation.Main Outcome Measure(s)Determination of psychological and medical eligibility for treatment.Result(s)The average age of men was 38.4 years. All couples were in a committed relationship and had been together for an average 6.4 years. All met medical and psychological criteria for acceptance.Conclusion(s)Gay men increasingly choose fatherhood through assisted reproduction. Counseling these couples on the medical and emotional demands of in vitro fertilization with a gestational carrier and an oocyte donor is a vital component of pretreatment preparation.