OBJECTIVE: To determine how couples prefer to dispose of their extra embryos and to establish a donor embryo program for the treatment of infertile couples. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: University-based IVF program. PATIENT(S): Patients (n = 365) with cryopreserved embryos in storage for >2 years and eight patients who desired donated embryos for transfer. INTERVENTION(S): An IVF ethics committee was formed to discuss the ethical and policy issues involved in starting an embryo donation program and to establish program guidelines. Couples with embryos cryopreserved for > or = 2 years were contacted to determine their desires for disposition of embryos. Potential recipients of donated embryos were identified in our clinic, and donated embryos were transferred to these patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Desires for embryo disposition and pregnancy rates. RESULT(S): Most couples elected either to continue storage of their embryos for future use (44%) or to discard their embryos (34%). A minority elected to donate their embryos either to infertile couples (11%) or for research (10%). Eight couples have had donated embryos transferred, and four have conceived ongoing pregnancies. CONCLUSION(S): Although only a small percentage of couples are willing to donate their embryos, the resulting number of embryos for use is substantial. Transfer of donated embryos results in a high pregnancy rate and is a cost-effective treatment of infertility.
OBJECTIVE: To determine how couples prefer to dispose of their extra embryos and to establish a donor embryo program for the treatment of infertile couples. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: University-based IVF program. PATIENT(S): Patients (n = 365) with cryopreserved embryos in storage for >2 years and eight patients who desired donated embryos for transfer. INTERVENTION(S): An IVF ethics committee was formed to discuss the ethical and policy issues involved in starting an embryo donation program and to establish program guidelines. Couples with embryos cryopreserved for > or = 2 years were contacted to determine their desires for disposition of embryos. Potential recipients of donated embryos were identified in our clinic, and donated embryos were transferred to these patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Desires for embryo disposition and pregnancy rates. RESULT(S): Most couples elected either to continue storage of their embryos for future use (44%) or to discard their embryos (34%). A minority elected to donate their embryos either to infertile couples (11%) or for research (10%). Eight couples have had donated embryos transferred, and four have conceived ongoing pregnancies. CONCLUSION(S): Although only a small percentage of couples are willing to donate their embryos, the resulting number of embryos for use is substantial. Transfer of donated embryos results in a high pregnancy rate and is a cost-effective treatment of infertility.
Entities:
Keywords:
Empirical Approach; Genetics and Reproduction
Authors: Robert D Nachtigall; Kirstin Mac Dougall; Matthew Lee; Jennifer Harrington; Gay Becker Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2010-04-01 Impact factor: 7.329
Authors: Robert D Nachtigall; Kirstin Mac Dougall; Jennifer Harrington; Julia Duff; Matthew Lee; Gay Becker Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2009-08-22 Impact factor: 7.329
Authors: Anne Drapkin Lyerly; Karen Steinhauser; Corrine Voils; Emily Namey; Carolyn Alexander; Brandon Bankowski; Robert Cook-Deegan; William C Dodson; Elena Gates; Emily S Jungheim; Peter G McGovern; Evan R Myers; Barbara Osborn; William Schlaff; Jeremy Sugarman; James A Tulsky; David Walmer; Ruth R Faden; Edward Wallach Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2008-12-05 Impact factor: 7.329