A mother's gift of life: exploring the concerns and ethical aspects of fertility preservation for mother-to-daughter oocyte donation.
With the introduction of oocyte vitrification, a special form of intergenerational intrafamilial medically assisted reproduction (IMAR) has now become feasible: fertility preservation for mother-to-daughter oocyte donation (FPMDD). For girls diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), banking of their mothers' oocytes can preserve the option of having genetically related offspring. Since policy documents on IMAR do not discuss specific concerns raised by FPMDD, clinicians can feel at a loss for guidance with regard to handling these requests. Through a comparison of FPMDD with reproductive practices in which similar concerns were raised, proportionality of cryopreservation for self-use and pressure to use the oocytes in fertility preservation in minors, we argue that FPMDD can be acceptable under conditions. The paper ends with recommendations for handling FPMDD-requests, including different options for the legal construction of this form of oocyte donation.
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands e.m.balkenende@amc.nl.
E M E
EM
Balkenende
Department of Health, Ethics & Society Research schools CAPHRI and GROW, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
W
W
Dondorp
Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
M C
MC
Ploem
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
C B
CB
Lambalk
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
M
M
Goddijn
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
F
F
Mol
D015925:Cryopreservation; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D009679:Nuclear Family; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000941:ethics*; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
ethics; fertility preservation; intrafamilial medically assisted reproduction; legal construction; minors; mother-to-daughter; premature ovarian insufficiency