In vitro fertilization in the Netherlands: experiences and opinions of Dutch women

We sent written questionnaires to 93 Dutch women [73 current and potential clients of the Rotterdam in vitro fertilization (IVF) program and 20 fertile nonusers] to determine the motivation for participation in IVF, patients' reactions to treatment, and views of concerned laypersons on current ethical/social issues. Seventy-eight (84%) completed the questionnaires. A large majority was strongly positive toward the having of children and toward IVF, but fewer fertile than infertile women (P less than 0.05) believed that "a child of one's own" was a right and that government insurance ought to cover IVF. Nearly all the patients (with or without successful pregnancies) were very satisfied with their clinical treatment and would recommend IVF. A large majority of all the women favored gamete donation and surrogate gestation, but fewer fertile than infertile women approved experiments with "spare" embryos or implanting donor embryos.