title: Gestational surrogacy: Viewpoint of Iranian infertile women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surrogacy is a popular form of assisted reproductive technology of which only gestational form is approved by most of the religious scholars in Iran. Little evidence exists about the Iranian infertile women's viewpoint regarding gestational surrogacy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the viewpoint of Iranian infertile women toward gestational surrogacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study was conducted at the infertility clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample consisted of 238 infertile women who were selected using the eligible sampling method. Data were collected by using a researcher developed questionnaire that included 25 items based on a five-point Likert scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data analysis was conducted by SPSS statistical software using descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viewpoint of 214 women (89.9%) was positive. 36 (15.1%) women considered gestational surrogacy against their religious beliefs; 170 women (71.4%) did not assume the commissioning couple as owners of the baby; 160 women (67.2%) said that children who were born through surrogacy would better not know about it; and 174 women (73.1%) believed that children born through surrogacy will face mental problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iranian infertile women have positive viewpoint regarding the surrogacy. However, to increase the acceptability of surrogacy among infertile women, further efforts are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran.
authors.forename: Azad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.forename: Nilofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sattarzadeh
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gholizadeh
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sheikhalipour
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allahbakhshian
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hassankhani