Psychology of Families Founded by Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Surrogacy

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and surrogacy have changed the way family, parenthood, and kinship have been considered over the past decades. Owing to ART, couples struggling with infertility, single people, and same-sex couples have acquired new opportunities to realise their dreams of parenthood. Although these changes bring enormous benefits, they also create new psychological challenges for both parents and children born through these methods. This chapter aims to present the psychological and emotional challenges faced by families founded through assisted reproductive technologies and surrogacy. The study outlines whether and how these methods affect family relationships, the development of children’s identity, and the psychological support useful at each stage of this process. Unique aspects related to parenthood for singles and same-sex couples are also addressed. The importance of transparency in conversations with children about their origins and the role of informed consent as a basis for ethical decisions in ART and surrogacy are presented.