Lesbian couples' childbearing experiences using assisted reproductive technology: A netnography study

Objective: This study aimed to explore how Chinese lesbian couples perceived having children through assisted reproductive technology (ART) and its impact on their experiences of family formation.

Design: This study adopted netnography to investigate online forum data created by self-identified lesbian couples in relation to assisted reproduction. Summative content analysis was used to analyse data.

Findings: Based on data analysis, A luan B huai, in which a lesbian conceives a child using her partner's egg, was seen as the best way to establish a family because it created a sense of symbolic connectedness with the child for both of them. Moreover, lesbian couples also indicated the crucial role that having children plays in maintaining family harmony, despite their opposition to heterosexual family traditions. With the stratification of reproductive tourism, certain groups of lesbians - for instance, those with limited social and cultural capital - might be at a disadvantage in the global setting of reproductive tourism.

Conclusions and implications: Lesbian couples valued the benefits of ART in assisting them to achieve their childbearing goals and build a family. Healthcare providers should take the initiative to enhance fertility care by addressing the concerns and unique challenges faced by lesbian populations.