Lesbian couples as therapeutic donor insemination recipients: do they differ from other patients?

Reports were based on 23 lesbian couples seeking therapeutic donor insemina tion (TDI). Seventeen single women and 14 heterosexual couples with known i nfertility, due to vasectomy, were recipient controls. No group differences were found an self-esteem, psychiatric symptomatology or dyadic adjustment , except that lesbians reported greater dyadic cohesion than heterosexuals. Lesbians and single women were likely to disclose their use of TDI to othe rs and had planned to disclose this to any child conceived; married couples were divided on this issue. Groups were alike in what they wanted to know about the donor (principally health variables and medical history), and in their concerns about the use of TDI (genetic and medical history). Groups d iffered in the reasons they elected to use TDI, with lesbian couples and si ngle women choosing TDI affirmatively, and married couples accepting it as a last resort.