title: Does increasing ovum donor compensation lead to differences in donor characteristics?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of a compensation increase for anonymous ovum donors on demographic and social characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Mount Sinai Medical Center Ovum Donation Program.
  
  
  METHODS
  All program applicants for 2 years preceding (group I, n = 2,934) and 1 year following an increase in donor compensation (group II, n = 1,114; total N = 4,048).
  
  
  METHODS
  Compensation was increased from $2,500 to $5,000 per cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic and social characteristics of applicants and donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More group II applicants (65.7%) than group I applicants (49.2%) returned an initial biographical questionnaire. Compensation level did not affect the percentage rejected at any stage in the application process or ultimately selected. There were no differences in donors in age, marital status, education, race, religion, or psychological profile. Group II donors had more previous pregnancies (group II mean = 1.2, group I mean = 0.6) and previous abortions (group II mean = 0.8, group I mean = 0.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing compensation may result in a higher percentage of potential donors completing an initial questionnaire but does not alter the demographic and social characteristics of selected donors. Adherence to a rigorous applicant screening ensures that donor characteristics remain independent from compensation.
authors: Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors: E K
authors: EK
authors: German
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Mukherjee
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Osborne
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Copperman
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001680:Biographies as Topic; D004467:Economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D010298:Parity; D010560:Personnel Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors