title: Recruiting egg donors online: an analysis of in vitro fertilization clinic and agency websites' adherence to American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine compliance with ethical guidelines of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) regarding trait-based payment variation, presentation of risks, and minimum recruitment age.
  
  
  METHODS
  In June 2010, we systematically examined 207 websites, of which 102 were egg donor agency or IVF clinic websites that both recruited online and displayed compensation amounts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Internet.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mention of increased payment for particular donor traits, recruitment age less than 21 years, noting risks to donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 102 sites, considerable numbers were noncompliant with ASRM's guidelines that prohibit varying compensation based on a donor's traits (34%), and recommend an age of 21 years or older (41%), and presentation of risks alongside compensation (56%). Trait-based payment variation was associated with being an agency rather than a clinic, location in the West, not being endorsed by ASRM or Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), and referring to ASRM's guidelines about compensation. Of sites mentioning traits, prior donation success was the most commonly paid for trait (64%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data, the first to systematically analyze agency and clinic websites reveal that many do not follow ASRM's guidelines. These data have critical implications for policy, practice, and research, suggesting needs for consideration of possible changes in guidelines, and/or improvements in compliance and monitoring by ASRM or others.
authors: Masters Program in Bioethics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Keehn
authors: Eve
authors: E
authors: Holwell
authors: Ruqayyah
authors: R
authors: Abdul-Karim
authors: Lisa Judy
authors: LJ
authors: Chin
authors: Cheng-Shiun
authors: CS
authors: Leu
authors: Mark V
authors: MV
authors: Sauer
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Klitzman
mesh_terms: D000329:Advertising / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States