Fertility patients' views about frozen embryo disposition: results of a multi-institutional U.S. survey.
OBJECTIVE
To describe fertility patients' preferences for disposition of cryopreserved embryos and determine factors important to these preferences.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey conducted between June 2006 and July 2007.


METHODS
Nine geographically diverse U.S. fertility clinics.


METHODS
1020 fertility patients with cryopreserved embryos.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
Likelihood of selecting each of five conventional embryo disposition options: store for reproduction, thaw and discard, donate to another couple, freeze indefinitely, and donate for research; likelihood of selecting each of two alternative options identified in previous research: placement of embryos in the woman's body at an infertile time, or a disposal ceremony; importance of each of 26 considerations to disposition decisions; and views on the embryo's moral status.


RESULTS
We found that 54% of respondents with cryopreserved embryos were very likely to use them for reproduction, 21% were very likely to donate for research, 7% or fewer were very likely to choose any other option. Respondents who ascribed high importance to concerns about the health or well-being of the embryo, fetus, or future child were more likely to thaw and discard embryos or freeze them indefinitely.


CONCLUSIONS
Fertility patients frequently prefer disposition options that are not available to them or find the available options unacceptable. Restructuring and standardizing the informed consent process and ensuring availability of all disposition options may benefit patients, facilitate disposition decisions, and address problems of long-term storage.
Lyerly
Anne Drapkin
AD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University, Box 3040, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. lyerl003@mc.duke.edu
Steinhauser
Karen
K
Voils
Corrine
C
Namey
Emily
E
Alexander
Carolyn
C
Bankowski
Brandon
B
Cook-Deegan
Robert
R
Dodson
William C
WC
Gates
Elena
E
Jungheim
Emily S
ES
McGovern
Peter G
PG
Myers
Evan R
ER
Osborn
Barbara
B
Schlaff
William
W
Sugarman
Jeremy
J
Tulsky
James A
JA
Walmer
David
D
Faden
Ruth R
RR
Wallach
Edward
E
D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D019924:Embryo Disposition / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D033041:Embryo Research / Q000941:ethics; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000941:ethics; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D044469:Racial Groups; D012106:Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States