BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was 2-fold: first, to investigate couples' reasons for not using cryopreserved embryos within the maximum storage period; second, to study their attitudes towards potential embryo donation for specific purposes. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 284 IVF/ICSI couples who experienced destruction of their cryopreserved embryos (n=1180) because the cryopreservation period exceeded the Danish legislative limit of 24 months. RESULTS: Seventy-four per cent of the couples responded. The main reasons for not utilizing surplus embryos was 'successful delivery' (85%), 'consider family completed' (61%) and 'too short legislative limit for cryopreservation' (59%). Sixty per cent of the couples agreed to the concept of donation of cryopreserved embryos for infertility research, 57% responded affirmatively to donation for stem cell research and 49% for stem cell treatment, but only 29% agreed to the concept of donation to infertile couples. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that delivery of a child after IVF treatment (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.4-10.2) and female age <35 years (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-6.0) were predictive of agreement to the idea of donation for stem cell research and stem cell treatment respectively; however, male age, duration of infertility, mode of conception (IVF or ICSI) and having IVF children were not significant predictors. The following predictive variables were entered into the analysis: female and male age, duration of infertility, IVF versus ICSI, donor semen and +/- IVF children. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that 23% of all couples having cryopreserved embryos do not utilize them for further treatment within the legislative storage period of 2 years. A major reason is successful delivery. More than half of these patients agreed to the concept of donation of surplus outdated embryos for research, whereas less than one-third agreed to donation to other infertile couples. Based on these figures, an alternative utilization of surplus embryos for stem cell research would require a 100-fold larger pool of available embryos to provide a realistic basis for this purpose.
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was 2-fold: first, to investigate couples' reasons for not using cryopreserved embryos within the maximum storage period; second, to study their attitudes towards potential embryo donation for specific purposes. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 284 IVF/ICSI couples who experienced destruction of their cryopreserved embryos (n=1180) because the cryopreservation period exceeded the Danish legislative limit of 24 months. RESULTS: Seventy-four per cent of the couples responded. The main reasons for not utilizing surplus embryos was 'successful delivery' (85%), 'consider family completed' (61%) and 'too short legislative limit for cryopreservation' (59%). Sixty per cent of the couples agreed to the concept of donation of cryopreserved embryos for infertility research, 57% responded affirmatively to donation for stem cell research and 49% for stem cell treatment, but only 29% agreed to the concept of donation to infertile couples. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that delivery of a child after IVF treatment (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.4-10.2) and female age <35 years (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-6.0) were predictive of agreement to the idea of donation for stem cell research and stem cell treatment respectively; however, male age, duration of infertility, mode of conception (IVF or ICSI) and having IVFchildren were not significant predictors. The following predictive variables were entered into the analysis: female and male age, duration of infertility, IVF versus ICSI, donor semen and +/- IVFchildren. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that 23% of all couples having cryopreserved embryos do not utilize them for further treatment within the legislative storage period of 2 years. A major reason is successful delivery. More than half of these patients agreed to the concept of donation of surplus outdated embryos for research, whereas less than one-third agreed to donation to other infertile couples. Based on these figures, an alternative utilization of surplus embryos for stem cell research would require a 100-fold larger pool of available embryos to provide a realistic basis for this purpose.
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Keywords:
Biomedical and Behavioral Research; 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: Jennifer Drevin; Dag Nyholm; Håkan Widner; Trinette Van Vliet; Jennifer Viberg Johansson; Elena Jiltsova; Mats Hansson Journal: BMC Med Ethics Date: 2022-10-19 Impact factor: 2.834
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: M Simopoulou; K Sfakianoudis; P Giannelou; A Rapani; E Maziotis; P Tsioulou; S Grigoriadis; E Simopoulos; D Mantas; M Lambropoulou; M Koutsilieris; K Pantos; J C Harper Journal: J Assist Reprod Genet Date: 2019-12-01 Impact factor: 3.412