title: Are health care providers adequately educating couples for embryo disposition decisions?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of education provided by health care professionals during and after IVF treatment in preparing couples for surplus embryo disposition decisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated fertility center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Couples with embryos cryopreserved for more than 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Likert scale was used to rate the response to questions about patients' preparedness to make decisions regarding their surplus embryos.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey response rate was 70% (131 of 187). Education provided by health care professionals before initiating treatment met the needs of the majority of participants (n = 86). After treatment, the education received was not adequate to assist couples in making embryo disposition decisions. Of the 127 respondents who provided feedback on their intention for their cryopreserved embryos, 37% (n = 47) had no intention of using cryopreserved embryos for their own reproduction, 24% (n = 30) intended to use embryos for procreation, and the remaining 39% (n = 50) remained undecided regarding their future use of their embryos. Participants with more than 3 years of infertility (n = 49) were most likely to feel conflicted about the decision after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The education received after treatment was considered inadequate. Couples with a long duration of infertility and those conflicted about final embryo disposition may be appropriate targets for further intervention. More written information and/or counseling services after treatment may help patients make informed and timely decisions regarding their surplus embryos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; ONE Fertility, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: stacy.deniz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stacy G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Deniz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; ONE Fertility, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: ONE Fertility, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; ONE Fertility, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mehrnoosh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faghih
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; ONE Fertility, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; ONE Fertility, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Megan F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Karnis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015925:Cryopreservation; D019924:Embryo Disposition / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Abandoned embryos; embryo cryopreservation; embryo end disposition; supernumerary embryos; surplus embryos