Access to fertility services for lesbian women in Canada

作者：Corbett Shannon L^*; Frecker Helena M; Shapiro Heather M; Yudin Mark H

来源：Fertility and Sterility, 2013, 100(4): 1077-1080.

DOI：10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.05.048

• Lesbian
• donor insemination
• clinic policy
• assisted reproductive technology

Objective: To determine reproductive services offered to lesbian patients by Canadian fertility clinics, policies of practice, ease of access to these services, and sensitivity of clinics to this population of patients. %26lt;br%26gt;Design: Survey sent to assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinic directors. %26lt;br%26gt;Setting: Academic medical center, university-based ethics institute. %26lt;br%26gt;Patient(s): None. %26lt;br%26gt;Intervention(s): None. %26lt;br%26gt;Main Outcome Measure(s): The percentage of Canadian fertility clinics that will provide reproductive services to lesbian patients; services offered; the presence of clinic policies on lesbian care; and the presence on web sites of heteronormative material. %26lt;br%26gt;Result(s): Completed surveys were received from 71% (24/34) of clinics. All clinics surveyed provided reproductive services to lesbian patients, with the exception of one clinic. Five of 24 (21%) clinics have a written policy on care for lesbian patients; 29% (7/24) will provide services to lesbian patients without prior investigations. All clinics will offer IUI and cycle monitoring to lesbian patients. Twenty-three of 24 clinics (96%) will offer IVF services when required. Fourteen of 32 clinic web sites (44%) make mention of lesbian patients and 27% (8/30) have heteronormative information only. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusion(s): Lesbians encounter several barriers to accessing reproductive services in Canada. Addressing these issues could improve experiences of lesbian women and couples seeking care at fertility clinics. (Fertil Steril (R) 2013;100:1077-80.

• 出版日期2013-10