title: Attitudes towards embryo donation among infertile couples with frozen embryos.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  What are the attitudes towards different aspects of embryo donation among Swedish infertile couples who have surplus cryopreserved embryos?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly three-quarters of infertile couples with surplus embryos were in favour of embryo donation. A majority of respondents were also in favour of embryos being donated for research.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Currently, embryo donation to other infertile couples is prohibited by law in Sweden. Encouraging results have been published from countries allowing embryo donation, although it is a complex procedure associated with many emotional, ethical, legal and psychosocial aspects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 471 infertile couples (942 patients) treated during the period March 2006 to March 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertile couples who had been treated at a Swedish university-based hospital and private IVF clinic and who had cryopreserved embryos were sent questionnaires with questions regarding socio-demographic data and their attitudes towards embryo donation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate to the questionnaire was 58%. Of the respondents, 76% supported the donation of surplus embryos to other infertile couples, but there were divided opinions regarding the disclosure of the genetic parents' identities. Close to 60% of the participants indicated that donations of embryos should be allowed for research and about 45% of the participants approved donations of embryos to single women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relatively low response rate and the hypothetical nature of the questions may limit the validity of the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from the study indicate that cryopreserved embryos may be available for donation to other infertile couples, particularly where restrictions can be set on recipient characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. kjell.wanggren@kbh.uu.se
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wånggren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alden
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bergh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skoog Svanberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001755:Blastocyst; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015925:Cryopreservation; D019924:Embryo Disposition / Q000009:adverse effects; D033041:Embryo Research; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000009:adverse effects; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D018907:Privacy; D012847:Single Person; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
keywords: attitudes; cryopreserved embryos; embryo donation; infertile; research