Reflecting on 25 years of research into assisted reproduction and modern families

A leading expert on assisted reproduction and family psychology recently shared insights from more than two decades of research during her inaugural lecture in the School of Health & Medical Sciences at City St George’s, University of London.

Professor Vasanti Jadva, Professor of Family Psychology in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at City St George’s, delivered the lecture “Assisted reproduction and the family” in February, which was the first inaugural held in the new School. Marking an important academic milestone, the talk explored how assisted reproductive technologies are reshaping family life.

In her lecture, Professor Jadva reflected on 25 years of research examining the experiences of families formed through assisted reproduction, including those involving IVF, egg and sperm donation, and surrogacy. As the lead of the Family, Infancy and Childhood (FINCH) Research Lab at City St George’s, her work focuses on the psychological wellbeing of parents, children, donors and surrogates involved in these forms of family building.

During her introduction, Professor Natalie Armstrong, Dean of the School, highlighted Professor Jadva’s contributions to the field. “Over more than 25 years, her research has helped move the field away from asking whether these families differ from so-called traditional families to appreciating the rich diversity, resilience, and humanity within them,” she said.

Professor Jadva opened the lecture by discussing her background and journey to where she is now, including her time at legacy City, the University of Cambridge and University College London (UCL). She also spoke about the growing importance of assisted reproduction worldwide, the rise in infertility, and how technologies such as IVF are increasingly being used by a wider range of people, including same-sex couples and single parents.

“Infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 couples globally,” she explained, noting that “over 2.5 million cycles of IVF are performed across the world annually.”

The lecture also explored a specific area known as third-party reproduction, where donor gametes or surrogacy are used to help people have children. Professor Jadva spoke about how the use of donor conception has grown steadily in recent years in the UK, reflecting changing family structures and social attitudes. Notably, in the UK, 1 in 170 of all births and 1 in 6 of IVF births involve donor gametes.

Over the course of her career, Professor Jadva has helped shift the focus of research in this field. Studies have included those that examined whether families created through assisted reproduction differ from so-called traditional families, including their psychological well-being, and research has also looked at surrogates and egg donors in India. Other studies have examined the diversity of family experiences.

A significant part of Professor Jadva’s research has focused on the perspectives of people conceived through donor gametes. In one study, she and colleagues examined why donor-conceived individuals might seek out others who share the same donor through online registries.

The research found that curiosity and the desire for information were important motivations. Many participants wanted to learn more about their genetic background or gain access to medical information that might otherwise be unavailable.

Another strand of the research examined how and when children are told about their donor conception. Findings from surveys and longitudinal studies showed that timing can play a key role in shaping how people feel about their origins.

According to the research presented during the lecture, individuals who learned about their donor conception earlier in life tended to respond more positively than those who discovered it later.

Professor Jadva also described more recent work exploring other family forms, including families created through reciprocal IVF, elective co-parenting arrangements and surrogacy involving single fathers. Her research has also examined the experiences of transgender parents and families using embryo donation.

Beyond academic research, the work has had a significant impact on policy. Studies led or co-led by Professor Jadva have informed legislation and international guidance relating to assisted reproduction and the rights of children born through these technologies. Alongside this policy work, Professor Jadva continues to carry out public engagement and participatory research, including events and festivals, theatre collaborations, and content in patient magazines.

Alongside her research group, Professor Jadva leads the Reproduction and the Family Research Group, which brings together researchers exploring family diversity and child development in the UK and internationally.

Concluding the lecture, Professor Jadva reflected on her journey to becoming a professor and the people, opportunities and experiences that shaped it.