The charity Progress Educational Trust commissioned a Europe-wide survey on public attitudes toward fertility treatment, embryo research, genome editing, and surrogacy. Ipsos conducted the survey, which was launched during the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's 42nd Annual Meeting.

The report, titled 'Fertility, Embryo Research and Genome Editing: Public Attitudes in Europe,' explored attitudes across the UK, Netherlands, Spain, and Italy. The society supported the survey, which included 8,688 participants aged 16–75 years, with more than 2,000 respondents in each country. The samples were designed to be representative of national populations based on age, gender, region, and working status.

A majority of respondents in all four countries supported state-funded fertility treatment for individuals experiencing infertility and wishing to conceive, with support ranging from 54% in the Netherlands to 64% in Italy. The survey also indicated public backing for the use of human embryos in research to better understand and develop treatments for congenital diseases. Support for this research exceeded opposition in all four countries, ranging from 41% in Italy to 48% in the Netherlands and Spain.

The survey found that a majority of respondents in the UK, Netherlands, and Spain supported genome editing to eliminate severe or life-threatening conditions in embryos intended for pregnancy. Support for this ranged from 46% in Italy to 55% in the Netherlands. Among respondents who supported or did not oppose the use of human embryos in research, the most common view was that the current 14-day limit on embryo research is "about right." The most popular justification for extending the 14-day limit to 28 days, among those who supported or did not oppose embryo research, was finding new treatments for congenital diseases. However, 27% of respondents asked about the 14-day limit did not know whether it was too long, too short, or about right.

Professor Karen Sermon, Immediate Past Chair of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, stated, "Reproductive medicine and embryo research are advancing rapidly, and these findings show the importance of understanding how the public views those developments." She added, "It is particularly striking that support for some applications extends beyond what is currently permitted in certain countries." A third quote from Sermon read: "As science advances, it is essential that public awareness keeps pace, so that decisions about future treatments are informed by both evidence and societal values."

Generational differences were observed across several topics, including sex selection, fertility treatment access, and embryo research. Younger respondents in all four countries were more likely than older respondents to say that sex selection should be permitted. In each of the four countries, the number of respondents who stated that surrogacy should be permitted exceeded those who said it should be prohibited.