Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37178223›Full record

ArticleJournal of assisted reproduction and genetics2023

Surrogates' experience during the COVID-19 pandemic: mental health, social support, and relationship with intended parents.

Samantha Yee, Jacob L Fine, Emma A Lindsay, Tali L Laszlo, Clifford L Librach

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Samantha YeeCReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Suite 1100, Toronto, ON, M5G 1N8, Canada. samantha@createivf.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1484-1137
Jacob L FineCReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Suite 1100, Toronto, ON, M5G 1N8, Canada.
Emma A LindsayCReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Suite 1100, Toronto, ON, M5G 1N8, Canada.
Tali L LaszloCReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Suite 1100, Toronto, ON, M5G 1N8, Canada.
Clifford L LibrachCReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Suite 1100, Toronto, ON, M5G 1N8, Canada.
CReATe Fertility Centre · CASunnybrook Health Science Centre · CAUniversity of Toronto · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo examine surrogates' mental health, social support, and relationship with intended parents (IPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to February 2022.

methodsData were collected between April 29, 2022 and July 31, 2022, at an academic IVF center in Canada using an 85-item online anonymous cross-sectional survey that included three standardized scales measuring mental health (PHQ-4), loneliness, and social support. Eligible surrogates actively involved in surrogacy during the study period received email invitations.

resultsThe response rate was 50.3% (338/672); 320 submitted surveys were analyzed. Two-thirds (65%) of respondents experienced mental health concerns during the pandemic and were significantly less comfortable about seeking mental health support than those without concerns. Nonetheless, 64% were highly satisfied with their surrogacy experience; 80% received a high level of support from their IPs, and 90% reported a good relationship with them. The final hierarchical regression model identified five significant predictors, explaining 39.4% of the variance in PHQ-4 scores: a prior mental health history, COVID-19 impact on personal life, surrogacy satisfaction, loneliness, and social support.

conclusionsCOVID-19 created an unprecedented challenge to surrogacy care, increasing surrogates' risk of experiencing mental health symptoms. Our data show that IP support and the surrogate-IP relationship were fundamentals to surrogacy satisfaction. The findings are relevant to fertility and mental health practitioners in identifying surrogates who are more susceptible to mental health challenges. Fertility clinics should ensure adequate psychological screening of surrogate candidates and proactively offer mental health support services.

Indexed as

COVID-19PandemicsCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGestational CarriersHumansInterpersonal RelationsMental HealthPregnancySocial SupportCOVID-19Gestational carriersMental healthPandemicSurrogacySurrogates

Identifiers

PMID37178223
PMCPMC10182344
OpenAlexW4376505888

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.