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.

Waldby C ，Carroll K 《-》

Attitudes of different groups of women in Sweden to oocyte donation and oocyte research.

Westlander G ，Janson PO ，Tägnfors U ，Bergh C ... -  《ACTA OBSTETRICIA ET GYNECOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA》

Investigating psychosocial attitudes, motivations and experiences of oocyte donors, recipients and egg sharers: a systematic review.

The donation of oocytes has been made feasible as a result of in vitro fertilization (IVF). This treatment offers an answer for infertile women with ovarian conditions, such as primary ovarian insufficiency. Demand for oocyte donors has been on the rise globally, with infertile couples, as well as gay men, increasingly using it as a means to found their families. With an acute shortage of oocyte donors globally, the psychosocial aspects behind oocyte donation are important for fertility clinics to understand. This paper aims primarily to provide an up-to-date systematic review of the psychosocial aspects of oocyte donation from the point of view of oocyte donors and recipients and egg sharers. Its secondary aims are to explore the motives and experiences of donors as well as attitudes towards donor anonymity and disclosure. An emphasis has been placed on the analysis of donors in the UK. No review has analysed together the aforementioned donor groups along with recipient group. A systematic search of English peer-reviewed journals of four computerized databases was undertaken, with no time restriction set for publications. There were 62 studies which met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Attitudes towards donation were positive from both a donor oocyte and recipient point of view, with medical procedures being well tolerated and excellent post-donation satisfaction among all donor groups. There were distinct differences between the different donor groups and recipients in motivation for oocyte donation and decisions for disclosure. Attitudes towards anonymity issues were reassuring with a significant proportion of donors of all types willing to donate as identifiable donors. However, there were methodological limitations identified in the studies reviewed. This review successfully explored the important psychosocial aspects of oocyte donation. In general terms the attitudes and feeling of patients involved from all sides of the donation process were extremely positive. A number of key and consistent issues emerged which demonstrated differences and similarities between the different donor groups, as well as a greater understanding of the recipient. With regard to psychosocial well-being, the results were reassuring throughout all donor groups, especially the egg share donors. Although it seems the 2005 legislative changes in the UK have not caused the anticipated dramatic decrease in gamete donation, oocyte donation still falls far short of demand. The UK has an increasing population of patients from different ethnic backgrounds and same sex relationships seeking oocyte donation, with very few studies including these groups of patients. An increased number of well-designed studies looking into the psychological issues surrounding gamete donation of different patient groups, could allow more directed assessment and counselling of oocyte donors and recipients, with a resulting increase in donor recruitment.

Bracewell-Milnes T ，Saso S ，Bora S ，Ismail AM ，Al-Memar M ，Hamed AH ，Abdalla H ，Thum MY ... -  《-》

The acceptability of posthumous human ovarian tissue donation in Utah.

Mizukami A ，Peterson CM ，Huang I ，Cook C ，Boyack LM ，Emery BR ，Carrell DT ... -  《HUMAN REPRODUCTION》

Comparative assessment of pre- and post-donation attitudes towards potential oocyte and embryo disposition and management among ovum donors in an oocyte donation programme.

Zweifel JE ，Rathert MA ，Klock SC ，Walaski HP ，Pritts EA ，Olive DL ，Lindheim SR ... -  《HUMAN REPRODUCTION》