Thoughts about motherhood among female students in Mexico: bioethical perspectives on assisted reproduction and adoption

A trend of delaying motherhood is increasingly evident among women advancing their careers, particularly amid professional growth, economic uncertainty, and a complex environmental and geopolitical landscape. Women delaying motherhood face decisions about whether and how to have children. Options include assisted reproduction and adoption. While assisted reproduction enables conception under conditions once considered impossible, it presents social, ethical, and legal challenges for both the mother and the child. Adoption aims to provide a family environment for children who have been abandoned or neglected. This study explores the views of a group of graduate students in Mexico on assisted reproduction and adoption as means to pursue motherhood. Twenty-one students responded to a questionnaire, which was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. The findings indicate that this study group has some awareness of assisted reproductive technologies and adoption, which shapes their views and reactions. It was evident that a woman's level of education is crucial for making informed decisions. Key topics identified were maternal age, discrimination, eugenics, and the child’s best interests. Although not initially considered, reproductive anxiety is also discussed.