A survey of public attitudes toward uterus transplantation, surrogacy, and adoption in Japan

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of male and female members of the public toward uterus transplantation (UTx), surrogacy, and adoption in Japan via a web-based survey. One thousand six hundred participants were recruited with equal segregation of age (20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s) and gender. We assessed the association between ethical view and gender, age, infertility, and the knowledge level of UTx, using a questionnaire. The findings were as follows. First, 36.5% and 31.0% of respondents agreed that UTx and gestational surrogacy should be approved, respectively. Second, the respondents would potentially choose to receive UTx (34.4%), gestational surrogacy (31.9%), and adoption (40.3%), if they or their partners experienced absolute uterine factor infertility. Third, 10.1%, 5.8%, and 14.3% of the respondents chose UTx, gestational surrogacy, and adoption as the most favorable option, respectively. Fourth, if their daughters suffered from absolute uterine factor infertility, 32.3% of female respondents might want to be donors, and 36.7% of male respondents might ask their wives to be donors. These data were affected by age, gender, infertility, or the knowledge level of UTx. UTx was a more acceptable option than gestational surrogacy and adoption. The effects of gender, age, infertility, and the level of knowledge of UTx are important in understanding the attitude toward UTx. On the other hand, there were concerns about the safety of UTx for recipients, donors, and babies. It is important to continue to understand public attitudes to inform the development and safety of UTx, which will enhance the discussion on the ethical consensus on UTx.

Approaches and Attitudes of University Students to Ethical Problems Regarding Assisted Reproductive Techniques: Descriptive Study

“…İran ve Japonya'da yapılan çalışmalarda, kadın ve erkeklerin yaklaşık olarak aynı oranda, Türkiye, Ürdün, Kanada ve Japonya'da yapılan çalışmalarda, erkeklerin kadınlara göre taşıyıcı anneliğe daha olumlu yaklaşım sergilediği tespit edilmiştir. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Ahmadi ve Bambad'ın çalışmasında, taşıyıcı annelik, sperm yumurta bağışına yaklaşım ve cinsiyet arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmamıştır. 17 kullanılan ölçme yöntemlerinden, bölgesel ya da örneklem farklılıklarından kaynaklandığı düşünülebilir.…”

Evolving clinical challenges in uterus transplantation

“…Alternatives to UTx are childlessness, adoption or gestational surrogacy. A survey in Japan indicated that the lay public would choose UTx (34.4%), gestational surrogacy (31.9%) or adoption (40.3%) if there were AUFI (Nakazawa et al, 2019). Adoption is a long and difficult process.…”

Keio Uterus Transplantation Research: From Basic Research toward Future Clinical Application

“…A questionnaire survey conducted by a group at Tokyo University in 2017 showed similar results. 39 However, it cannot be said that the technology of UTx is fully known to Japanese society, and it is necessary for medical personnel to provide accurate information, including the advantages and disadvantages of UTx, to Japanese society. Further investigations to establish the societal need for UTx in Japan should be carried out.…”