The Swiss are open to the idea of getting help to have children. This is shown by the first assessment of a representative survey published on Monday by the University of Zurich (UZH).
UZH scientists led by Jörg Rössel interviewed 5,283 Swiss people as part of the “Swiss Assisted Reproduction Longitudinal Study” (CHARLS) about their experiences and attitude towards different infertility treatments. According to the university, this is the first representative survey on this topic.
Doctoral student Maila Mertens carried out an initial evaluation of this survey. Results: Hormone therapy is most often used in Switzerland to treat infertility. A total of 9% of those surveyed received such treatment. Artificial insemination is the second most used method: 5% have used it, compared to 4% for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and 1% for sperm donation.
Unlike artificial insemination, which involves injecting sperm into the cervix or directly into the uterus just before ovulation, IVF involves collecting eggs and fertilizing them in the laboratory.
“Morally defensible”
Nearly three in four respondents (72%) said artificial insemination was morally good or very good. The same goes for IVF and egg freezing with 60% and 57% favorable opinions respectively. And 17% of all women can imagine freezing eggs, while 22% are undecided about it.
Respondents were also open to egg donation, which is banned in Switzerland: 73% indicated they would approve of its legalization. Only surrogacy and embryo donation were less well received, with less than a third of respondents deeming them morally acceptable.
The first survey of this longitudinal survey on assisted reproduction was carried out at the beginning of 2023. It is planned that the same people will be interviewed again two years apart. The questionnaires will also be refined, notes the UZH.
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