MPH503, Infertility and Public Health, Mod 4 Case Assignment - Essay Example

MPH 503 Infertility and Public Health Mod 4 Case Assignment Conceiving a Child under ART Many times conceiving and raising a child is more importantto a woman than a full time or enduring relationship with a male. This may lead to artificial insemination in an effort to have this child. There is still some controversy and has been throughout history about single women or Lesbian women raising children. Studies have shown though, that these children may be better adjusted than the average child.

This paper will discuss this type of family including the circumstances and the considerations. Certainly for the single mother or for the lesbian mother, there are things to consider before undertaking such a big event. The usual things, of course, such as am I healthy enough, am I in a stable relationship, and is this a good environment for the child? Can I actually afford this very expensive procedure and if the father is known, is this someone that I may need to be connected to his family?

Other than those typical kinds of things, there is the criticism. Today there is much controversy as to whether it is an acceptable way to raise children. This causes quite a lot of criticism and discussion that even the child will have to learn to deal with. Much of that controversy centers around the fear that the children will not be well adjusted and if raised by lesbians will be gay themselves (Drexler, 2002). Many studies are showing this not to be true, in fact Drexler’s (2002) study shows that these children are probably better adjusted than other children.

Parenting these children must include considerations for the above issues but other than that, parenting, according to most studies is quite stable in these circumstances.There are, however, a couple of issue that present themselves in the literature. One of those is that older couples as well as older women are using this technique to have children. This has precipitated several studies. Bovin, Rice, and Hay et.al. (2009) completed a study that shows that even though there is less outward emotion shown in these older parents, children remain very stable and do not have unusual problems growing up.

Another issue that is represented in the literature is the involvement of grandparents. In the event that the grandparents are known most of them admitted that they would want to have contact with these children. In a study completed by Fulcher, Chan Raboy et.al.(2002), eighty families were studied and the result was that in as many households that were heterosexual as well as lesbian, the grandparents as well as uncles and other extended family members were a regular part of these children lives.

In conclusion, the use of ART by women who are lesbian or women who wish to have a family as a single parent remains somewhat controversial. This controversy has gone on for some time and may stem from the original single family studies done because of abandoning fathers (Drexler, 2002). This is hardly the same thing though and the success of such families is showing well in the research. Most of these children are not only as well adjusted but in many cases better adjusted than the child raised in the average household (Murray, and Golombok, 2005).

Most of this literature would speak to a successful family outcome.ReferencesBoivin, J, Rice, F. & Hay, D. et.al. (2009). Associations between maternal older age, family environment and parent and child well being in families using assisted reproductive techniques to conceive. Social Science and Medicine 68(11): 1948-55.Drexler, P. (2002). Lesbian mothers making men. The Village Voice. 47(32): 42.Fulcher, M., Chan, R., Raboy, B et.al. (2002).Contact with grandparents among children conceived via donor insemination by lesbian and heterosexual mothers.

Parenting Science and Practice. 2(1). 61-76.Murray, C., Golombok, S. (2005). Going it alone: solo mothers and their infants conceived by donor insemination. American journal of Orthopsychiatry 75(2): 242-253.