title: Guidelines for infertility counselling in different countries: is there an emerging trend?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is widely accepted that infertility and involuntary childlessness, and the decision to engage with assisted reproduction technology (ART) services as a patient, donor or surrogate can entail wide-ranging psychosocial issues. Psychosocial counselling has, therefore, become valued as an integral element of ART services. The objective of this study was to begin to map out what exists globally by the way of guidelines for infertility counselling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analysed from formal guidelines produced by seven national infertility counselling bodies, onetransnational infertility counselling organization, reports of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Ethics Committee and Practice Committee and the ESHRE Task Force on Ethics and Law. Additional sources of data were the International Infertility Counseling Organization and counselling colleagues internationally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four broad areas concerning contemporary practice in infertility counselling are identified: (i) the legal mandate for counselling; (ii) eligibility credentials for individuals carrying out professional counselling activities; (iii) different forms of counselling and (iv) counselling practice in relation to specific elements of assisted reproduction treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internationally, the development of infertility guidelines is best described as a 'work in progress', although key trends are evident.
authors.affiliation: University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK. e.d.blyth@hud.ac.uk
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blyth
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003376:Counseling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D013020:South America; D014481:United States