Support for selling embryos among infertility patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the opinions of infertility patients regarding selling extra embryos, and to investigate the relation between patient choice and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, self-administered survey.


METHODS
University hospital-based fertility center.


METHODS
1350 consecutive women who presented for infertility care.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Patient opinion regarding selling extra embryos to other couples, and correlations with their demographic and socioeconomic background.


RESULTS
Of respondents with a definitive opinion, 56% felt that selling extra embryos to other couples should be allowed. After adjustment for observed predictors favoring selling extra embryos, we found statistically significantly lower support for selling embryos among patients who were Hispanic (relative to Caucasians) or had never been pregnant, whereas significantly greater support was observed among Hindu and secular women, patients being treated for male factor infertility, and those who in the past had or were currently undergoing intrauterine insemination. Age, education, marital status, and parity were not statistically significantly associated with the opinions about selling extra embryos to other couples.


CONCLUSIONS
A large proportion of infertility patient participants approved of selling leftover embryos to other couples. However, some demographic and reproductive factors are significantly associated with patient opinion.
Jain
Tarun
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. tjain@uic.edu
Missmer
Stacey A
SA
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D032821:Commodification; D019924:Embryo Disposition / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000191:economics* / Q000208:ethnology*; D040841:Resource Allocation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology