Emotions towards potential genetic offspring among oocyte donors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Plain English Summary There is limited information about the presence of maternal emotions in egg donor women during the assisted reproductive techniques (ART) process and before pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate these emotions of women towards the potential genetic offspring and to compare them with women treated with ART by using own oocytes. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 women who were divided into two groups of egg donor and those treated with ART and using autologous oocyte. At the time of oocyte retrieval and using a validated questionnaire, the emotions toward potential offspring (EPO) resulting from ART and its three dimensions (including imagination, sense of ownership, and importance of treatment outcome) were measured and compared in two groups. Out of 100 women. Comparison of the EPO in the two groups showed that the emotions in all three dimensions were lower in egg donors than the other group. Moreover, in egg donors, the mean score of the scale of the importance of treatment outcome dimension was higher than the other two scales. The results of the study showed that there is a significant emotion toward the potential offspring in oocyte donors. The presence of these emotions thus should be considered in formulating the ethical charter of ART by using oocyte donation. Background The presence of maternal emotions towards the offspring resulting from assisted reproductive techniques (ART) has been previously reported in oocyte donors. However, there is limited information about the presence of these emotions in oocyte donors during the ART process and before pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the emotions of oocyte donor women towards the potential genetic offspring and to compare them with women treated with ART by using own oocytes. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 women who were divided into two groups of oocyte donors and those treated with ART and using autologous oocyte. At the time of oocyte retrieval. Using a validated questionnaire, the emotions toward potential offspring (EPO) resulting from ART and its three dimensions (including imagination, sense of ownership, and importance of treatment outcome) were measured and compared in two groups. Results Comparison of the EPO in the two groups showed that the emotions in all three dimensions were lower in oocyte donors than the other group (p < 0.001). Moreover, in oocyte donors, the mean score of the scale of the importance of treatment outcome dimension was higher than the other two scales (p < 0.001). Conclusion The results of the study showed that there is a significant emotion toward the potential offspring in oocyte donors. The presence of these emotions thus should be considered in formulating the ethical charter of ART by using oocyte donation.