Social factors in patients for artificial insemination by donor (AID)

Abstract

SummaryA programme of artificial insemination, using donor semen, within the NHS began in Nottingham in 1975. Since the inception of the programme all couples have been interviewed by a senior medical social worker, either at home or, later in the programme, within the clinics. This paper reports on features including education, employment, relationship to fertility status, relationship to parents and childhood, religion and reaction to adoption or fostering from the first 147 couples interviewed. All couples have stated a willingness for follow-up assessments and further studies are planned to review their marriages and psychological make-up in later years.