Treatment decision making in anonymous donor egg in-vitro fertilisation: A qualitative study of childless women and women with genetically related children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse donor egg recipients' anticipatory concerns and feelings and to consider how these relate to their decision to enter into treatment. The women were divided into two groups: those who were childless and those with a genetically related child or children. In-depth interviews were carried out with seven women on the waiting list for the egg donation treatment programme at the Lister Hospital in London. The participants with children expressed reservations and anxiety about proceeding with treatment and this created ‘a state of dilemma’ but the possibility of treatment led to a pressure to proceed. In contrast, the prospect of treatment for the childless participants gave rise to feelings of excitement and hope of finally having a baby and their quest took on the form of a personal mission and they expressed very few reservations about the treatment. This was a small qualitative study but in terms of egg donation research, the distinction seen here between women seeking to be first time mothers and those attempting to build a new family or complete an existing one, warrants further attention and has implications for pre-treatment counselling.

Keywords:

• Egg donation
• IVF
• qualitative
• decision making
• assisted conception counselling

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by Mr Hossam Abdalla, Clinical Director at the Lister Fertility Clinic in London, UK. Most importantly of all, thanks to the participants themselves for taking part in the study. All the authors contributed to the writing of the paper. Sue Stuart-Smith was the main researcher and carried out the interviews. Elizabeth J. Scott organised recruitment. Jonathan A. Smith supervised the research project and was involved in the design of the study as well as overseeing the analysis of the data.

Disclosure of interests:

A small grant was awarded by the Tavistock Clinic Research Committee to fund transcribing of audiotapes.