Attitudes towards assisted reproduction technology among young childless women in Hungary

Abstract

Issues related to assisted reproduction are relevant topics in Hungary because several public policy measures have recently been adopted that may affect their use (as of February 1, 2020, six fertility clinics were nationalized, and from July 1, 2020, not only assisted reproduction treatments are freely available, but also examinations and medicines have become free in Hungary). Yet we know relatively little about the attitudes of potential users to assisted reproduction technology.

In this study, I have examined the general attitudes of women between the ages of 20 and 35 to assisted reproduction technologies as well as the norms concerning partnership and age related to assisted reproduction technologies based on four focus group discussions.

The results show that there is an overall positive attitude to assisted reproduction, but that does not necessarily mean that someone would use assisted reproduction if they needed it. Regarding age, although the focus group participants spanned the possible period of childbearing, they do not consider age as the most important factor influencing fertility. The biggest debate among the focus group participants concerned whether or not single women and lesbian couples should be allowed to participate in assisted reproduction.