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Being an identity-release donor: a qualitative study exploring the motivations, experiences and future expectations of current UK egg donors.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Graham, Susanna 
Ahuja, Kamal 

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the motivations, experiences and future expectations of identity-release egg donors in the UK following the removal of donor anonymity and the increase in financial compensation for egg donation. This exploratory, in-depth qualitative study comprised semi-structured interviews with 11 women who had attended an egg donation screening appointment at a UK clinic during a four-month period in 2014. Interviews were conducted two to six weeks after the woman had donated or had withdrawn/been rejected from the donation process. Participants' primary motivation for donating was to help infertile women have their 'own child', and the recent increase in financial compensation did not seem to play a significant role in their decision. All were happy to be identifiable and contacted by children born as a result of their donation. However, some were hesitant about providing non-identifying information about themselves for these offspring and wished for further information about the recipient(s) of their eggs and the outcome of their donation. Whilst this study was limited due to the small sample size, it is the first study of UK egg donors following the rise in donor compensation and suggests that other strategies may be more effective in increasing donor numbers.

Description

Keywords

Egg donation, egg donor, financial compensation, identity-release donation, information provision, motivation, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female, Motivation, Oocyte Donation, Qualitative Research, Tissue Donors, United Kingdom

Journal Title

Hum Fertil (Camb)

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1464-7273
1742-8149

Volume Title

Publisher

Informa UK Limited
Sponsorship
The study was funded by a research grant from the London Women’s Clinic.