Perceptions of oocyte banking from women intending to circumvent age-related fertility decline.
BACKGROUND
Women can now opt to bank their oocytes with the intention of increasing their chances of achieving a pregnancy after their fertility has declined. This exploratory study aimed to gain insight into how women, considering oocyte banking to circumvent age-related fertility decline, perceive this intervention.


METHODS
We conducted a qualitative study in a Dutch university medical center and held in-depth interviews with women on the waiting list for oocyte banking. We recorded the interviews, transcribed them verbatim and used thematic analysis.


RESULTS
All women were financially independent and lived in single-person urban households. They opted for oocyte banking because they wished to share parenthood with a future partner rather than becoming a single parent. This strong desire was key in their interpretation of all aspects of the intervention. Women set aside information about the limited success rates and potential risks, as they were optimistic about their own prognosis, thought that the chances for success were equally likely as the chances it would fail, and because of "anticipatory regret". They perceived oocyte banking as a "helping hand" to achieve shared parenthood. Although women found the costs of the intervention high, they were willing to invest their money to increase their chances for shared parenthood.


CONCLUSIONS
Oocyte banking allows women to circumvent age-related fertility decline. The prospect of potential shared parenthood overrules the perceived health risks and burden. Health professionals should take this into account when informing potential users of oocyte banking.
Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Marije
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6424-9436
M
de Groot
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Women and Children's Clinic, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|Leuven University Fertility Center, Leuven University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium.
Eline
E
Dancet
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Women and Children's Clinic, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Sjoerd
S
Repping
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Women and Children's Clinic, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Mariette
M
Goddijn
Center for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
Dominic
D
Stoop
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Women and Children's Clinic, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Fulco
F
van der Veen
Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Trudie
T
Gerrits
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D009865:Oocytes; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*
Delayed motherhood; fertility; oocyte cryopreservation; oocyte freezing; patient-centeredness; social values