Table 1 Reasons for requesting PGD sex selection
Category (n*) | Detail |
|---|---|
Emotional (509) | Intense desire and fulfillment of a dream |
Threat to family cohesion | |
Wish to balance family | |
For the benefit of others, incl. other children in the family | |
Unfounded fear of sex-related genetic problem | |
Response to a family tragedy | |
Consideration of sex-selection by abortion or overseas PGD | |
Medically-related (192) | Final chance at pregnancy (maternal age, repeated CS) |
Non-sex linked genetic problem | |
Family/Social Pressure (172) | Continuing the family name |
Threat to the parent’s social status | |
Dying request/will | |
Financial implications | |
Religious (103) | Wish to fulfill the commandment to be “fruitful and multiply” |
To have a son to say Kaddish (memorial prayer, only by males) | |
To spare the son of a Kohen public embarrassment of being born of sperm donation (i.e. request for a girl) | |
Mental Health: self-reported or diagnosed emotional/mental disturbance (30) | Anxiety |
Depression | |
Obsession | |
Psychiatric diagnosis | |
Disturbance to functioning | |
Avoidance of socializing |