Assisted reproductive technologies and the Iranian community attitude towards infertility

Since the late 1990s, assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have been legitimized in Iran through an official religious endorsement. Iran, under the dominant authority of the Shia sect, is now the most enthusiastic adopter of ARTs in the Muslim world, permitting all forms of treatments, including third party donation. This study examined the public perception of assisted conception and its influence on the adoption of these methods in Iran. The study was questionnaire-based and conducted in 2012 in Shiraz, the most populated city in the south of Iran. It included 405 Iranian residents selected through the cluster sampling method. The results indicated that respondents did not support all types of assisted reproduction. Amongst modern infertility treatment methods, IVF (using husband's sperm and wife's egg) was the most widely accepted. Gestational surrogacy and the use of donated gametes were less accepted. Demographic variables including gender, marital status, age, education and employment status were linked to significant differences in public opinion. It was concluded that members of the public require better information about gamete donation and surrogacy, as this could shape infertile couples' decision-making.