title: Deciding the fate of supernumerary frozen embryos: a survey of couples' decisions and the factors influencing their choice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the decisions that couples make regarding supernumerary frozen embryos, the factors influencing these decisions, and the degree of difficulty involved in reaching a decision; and to canvass attitudes toward donating embryos to stem-cell research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous postal survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A large, private IVF clinic in a major city in Victoria, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive cohort of couples who contacted the Monash IVF clinic in relation to embryos in long-term storage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects completed a survey regarding decisions about surplus frozen embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Couples' decision regarding supernumerary embryos and reasons for the decision, experience of deciding, and attitudes about embryo donation for stem-cell research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty percent (123/311) returned completed questionnaires. The most common decision was donation to research (42%). Altruistic motives and desire not to waste embryos were determinants of embryo donation. Determinants of disposal were not wanting a full sibling to existing children and opposition of embryo research. Forty-five percent found deciding distressing. The majority (69%) approved of embryo donation to stem-cell research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most couples preferred embryos to come to some use rather than being disposed of. Almost half the sample reported finding the decision making distressing. A majority approved of embryo donation for stem-cell research.
authors.affiliation: Monash IVF, Epworth Hospital, Richmond, Victoria, Australia. karinhammarberg@bigpond.com
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hammarberg
authors.forename: Leesa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tinney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003657:Decision Making; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology