Characterization of potential oocyte donors in Sweden

Financial compensation of oocyte donors: an Ethics Committee opinion

Financial compensation of women donating oocytes for reproductive or research purposes is justified on ethical grounds and should acknowledge the time, inconvenience, and discomfort associated with screening, ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval, and postretrieval recovery and not vary according to the planned use of the oocytes or the number or quality of oocytes retrieved. This document replaces the document of the same name published in 2016.

Moral women, immoral technologies? Romanian women's perceptions of assisted reproductive technologies versus adoption

The present study explored how Romanian women perceive in-vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, and adoption as alternative pathways to traditional parenthood. Previous studies suggested that both men and women generally prefer a full genetic link, followed by a partial genetic link and, finally, no genetic link (i.e. adoption). We explored these findings by testing a series of predictors in a sample of women aged 18-45-years. We found that adoption was the most preferred option among Romanian women, while surrogacy was the last. Older women, with children, rather non-religious, and in a steady relationship, had a more positive perception of IVF. Older women and less religious had a more positive perception of surrogacy as a pathway to parenthood. In hypothetical scenarios, the most preferred option was adoption, followed by IVF and surrogacy. Results are discussed within the Romanian context regarding various methods of ART.

Worlds apart or two sides of the same coin? Attitudes, meanings, and motives of potential oocyte and sperm donors in Austria

Purpose

Gamete donors and recipients of such donations have been explored by previous studies, which mostly focus on post-donation scenarios. Our study analyses the general willingness to donate oocytes or sperm and focuses on differences between potential female and male donors in attitudes, meanings, and motives in a pre-donation setting.

Methods

An electronic survey (n = 555 students) was used in this anonymous observational study. To enable comparisons between men and women regarding their attitudes, meanings, and motives and their willingness to donate gametes, we designed two separate questionnaires.

Results

The sample was divided into three groups based on the willingness to donate: potential donors (n = 133; women: 48.1%, men: 51.9%); doubtful donors (n = 207; women: 75.8%, men: 24.2%); and non-donors (n = 215; women: 68.3%, men: 31.7%). The group of potential male donors (39.2%) was significantly larger than the group of potential female donors (16.9%). Significant differences regarding altruism, the meaning of one’s self-worth, and passing on the own genes were found between doubtful and potential donors. Potential donors attached less value to altruism but more value to the enhancement of one’s self-worth and passing on one’s genes than doubtful donors. The motive of passing on one’s genes and altruistic motives were more important to men than to women.

Conclusion

This study helps to create a better understanding of potential donors in the existing donation framework and supports the evaluation of the given regimes in the context of designing an improved framework.

[Are patients in the postpartum period potential egg donors?]

OBJECTIVES

In France, oocyte donation program is still underdeveloped because of lack of donors and this situation entails an important wave of cross border medical tourism to different European countries mainly Spain and Greece. In 2011, the General inspection of social affairs report recommended to the biomedicine agency to promote spontaneous oocyte donation via different channels of information to develop this national program. The main objective of this study is to assess the knowledge of women after baby delivery about oocyte donation. The second objective is the identification of ways to assure better information and to promote oocyte donation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective study with anonymous questionnaire distribution to women after delivery at obstetrics/gynecology department of the Regional University Hospital and Maternity-Children Unit "Victor-Pauchet" of Amiens, from December 2012 to January 2013.

RESULTS

Two hundred and fifty-five questionnaires were distributed and 242 of them were analyzed (94.9%). About oocyte donation knowledge: 28% did not know it was possible, 45% did not know it was legal in France, 54% did not know who was concerned and 36% know that a treatment is necessary, 9% think that oocyte donation is paid and 10% it is non-anonymous. If 67% seems to be favorable to this initiative, only 35% could accept to realize it. About information efficiency, 88% think not to receive enough information, 64% would like to have more information. The health care professional wanted to give this information is an obstetrician (51%), a midwife (37%) and a nurse (12%).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Oocyte donation program is misoriented due to a lack of information. Obstetricians and midwives have an important educational and informative role to support oocyte donation. Specific strategy of communication and valuable targeted information are needed to motivate potential donor and achieve the objectives of the program.

Gamete donors' satisfaction; gender differences and similarities among oocyte and sperm donors in a national sample

OBJECTIVE

To explore oocyte and sperm donors' emotional stress, experiences of care and satisfaction after donation.

DESIGN

Prospective multicenter study.

SETTINGS

All fertility clinics performing gamete donation in Sweden during the period 2005 to 2008.

POPULATION

Of 220 eligible oocyte donors who were approached, 181 agreed to complete the first questionnaire and 165 completed the second questionnaire 2 months after oocyte donation. Of 156 eligible sperm donors 119 accepted to complete the first questionnaire before donation. Eighty-nine participants completed the second questionnaire 2 months after sperm donation.

METHODS

Standardized and study-specific questionnaires.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Satisfaction with the donation, respondents' mental health and overall care.

RESULTS

A larger percentage of sperm donors (97.8%) were satisfied with their overall experience of being a donor than oocyte donors (85.9%, p = 0.003). Some oocyte and sperm donors did not receive sufficient information about practical issues (9.1% and 13.5%, respectively) and future consequences (12.8% and 3.4%, respectively, p = 0.014). The donors' symptoms of anxiety and depression did not show any differences in relation to negative or positive perceptions of satisfaction. The donors who did not indicate ambivalence before treatment were on average almost five times more satisfied compared with those who did indicate ambivalence (odds ratio 4.71; 95% CI 1.34-16.51).

CONCLUSIONS

Most donors were satisfied with their contribution after the donation. Oocyte and sperm donors who expressed ambivalence before donation were less satisfied after donation. In vitro fertilization staff fulfilled most of the donors' needs for information and care.

Egg donation for stem cell research: ideas of surplus and deficit in Australian IVF patients' and reproductive donors' accounts

We report on a study undertaken with an Australian in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinic to understand IVF patients' and reproductive donors' perceptions of oocyte (egg) donation for stem cell research. Such perspectives are particularly valuable because IVF patients form a major recruitment group for oocyte donation for research, and because patients and donors have direct experience of the medical procedures involved. Similar studies of oocyte donation have been carried out elsewhere in the world, but to date very little social science research has been published that reports on donation for research, as distinct from donation for reproduction. Our respondents expressed a distinct unwillingness to donate viable oocytes for stem cell research. In our analysis we consider a number of factors that explain this unwillingness. These include the labour of oocyte production, the inscrutability of oocytes (the lack of a test to identify degrees of fertility) and the extent to which the oocytes' fertility sets the parameters for all downstream reproductive possibilities. We draw on the science studies literature on affordances to make sense of the social intractability of oocytes, and compare them with the respondents' much greater willingness to donate frozen embryos for human embryonic stem cells research.

'I feel like they were mine and I should be looking after them': an exploration of non-patient women's attitudes towards oocyte donation

The aims of this study were to qualitatively assess the meaning of oocytes and oocyte donation for treatment and research among non-patient women in the UK using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. This study also assessed the application of components of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in intentions and attitudes towards oocyte donation. Eight parous and nulliparous women from White and South Asian backgrounds, who reported no fertility problems, were interviewed. Four interrelated super-ordinate themes were identified: (1) oocytes as 'Just a cell' and 'Potential life'; (2) oocyte donation as 'Altruism' and 'Not normal behaviour'; (3) 'Importance of motherhood' and the 'Importance of a genetic link'. Ethnic differences were observed in the final theme (4) which identified the importance of 'Social Support' and 'Reproductive Control' in women's discourses of oocyte donation. Analysis revealed participant's beliefs and thoughts about oocyte donation were complex, interwoven and paradoxical. Previous quantitative studies that have assessed components of the TPB in relation to oocyte donation have failed to identity important alternative explanations of oocyte donation and subtle complexities in attitudes.

Attitudes of patients, healthcare professionals and ethicists towards embryonic stem cell research and donation of gametes and embryos in Germany

Due to the Embryo Protection Act, creation of supernumerary embryos, as well as egg and embryo donation, is prohibited in Germany. Human stem cell research is regulated through the Act on stem cells that came into force in 2002. A cross-sectional survey of 101 IVF couples (n=202) in two fertility centres, and representative samples of healthcare professionals and ethicists (n=879), was carried out, and their attitudes towards embryonic stem cell research and donation of gametes and embryos compared. A clear majority of IVF couples favoured legalization of egg and embryo donation and embryonic stem cell research for various purposes. The willingness of couples to donate was related to purpose and to other independent influences. The majority of physicians voted for legalization of embryonic stem cell production from surplus embryos. Most human geneticists and obstetricians approved egg, but not embryo, donation to other couples. Ethicists and midwives were opposed to every kind of donation and research on surplus embryos. The IVF couples surveyed have positive attitudes towards donation and research using surplus embryos, whereas the healthcare professionals and ethicists are predominantly sceptical about most research activities destroying human embryos. This difference should be considered carefully in legal and ethical discussions on reprogenetics.

Oocyte and embryo donation 2006: reviewing two decades of innovation and controversy

For over 21 years, oocyte and embryo donation have been used to treat infertility caused by a variety of conditions affecting the ovary. Many disorders, including premature ovarian failure, advanced reproductive age, unexplained recurrent implantation failure and inherited conditions, are amenable to gamete donation, with high pregnancy rates and good obstetrical outcomes observed in recipients. Protocols for the medical screening of recipients and donors, as well as infectious disease and genetic testing, have become relatively uniform and well accepted. Established guidelines allow synchronization of the menstrual cycles of both women to ensure that embryos are transferred to a receptive endometrium. The high demand for donor services has led to escalating costs and long waiting lists. American programmes bid against each other to secure the participation of young women often motivated as much by financial reward as altruism. In the United States, where the majority of oocyte donation is practised, more than 100,000 treatment cycles have occurred. However, to date no meaningful longitudinal studies detailing the long term effects of treatment on donors, recipients, children born, or families created have been published. Throughout its history, oocyte and embryo donation has proven to be both efficacious and clinically innovative, yet remains highly controversial.