Oocyte donation: particular technical and ethical aspects.
This paper analyses the reasons that oocyte and sperm donation are experienced very differently by couples, despite their apparent similarity, and stresses the impact of the difficulties on donor recruitment in all oocyte donation programmes. The various types of donors (occasional, relational, in-vitro fertilization patient and professional) are described together with their motivations, resistance, advantages and disadvantages. The contradictory consequences with free or paid donation, the particular risks of oocyte donation (in comparison with sperm donation) both for the donor and for the recipient are highlighted. The problem of maintaining anonymity is then analysed in ethical terms but also in terms of technical efficacy. A strategy is described which, due to the decision of retaining anonymity, authorizes the sharing of oocytes between recipients. This has as a consequence, an increase in treatment efficacy by avoiding wastage of oocytes offered as a donation.
Fertility Clinic, Department Obstetrics/Gynecology, Erasme Hospital, Free University Brussels, Belgium.
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Englert
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Govaerts
D003219:Confidentiality; D033001:Directed Tissue Donation; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000191:economics; D013094:Spermatozoa; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement