Katherine M Johnson1. 1. Department of Sociology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. kmj165@psu.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of openness in U.S. gamete donation policies across fertility clinics, egg donation agencies, and sperm banks. DESIGN: Primarily a content analysis of organizational materials (e.g., websites, brochures). SETTING: Not applicable. PARTICIPANT(S): A total of 219 fertility clinics, 100 egg donation agencies, and 30 sperm banks. INTERVENTION(S): Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Use of donor photographs, anonymity between parties, cycle outcome disclosure, and postcycle contact. RESULT(S): Agencies were more likely to provide donor photographs, have proactive policies to inform donors of the cycle outcome, and have nonanonymous options compared with sperm banks and clinics. Sperm banks were more likely to offer institutionalized donor identity-release programs. CONCLUSION(S): Clinics, agencies, and sperm banks have different policies to address the level of openness between donors, recipients, and donor-conceived children. Although agencies generally offer more open arrangements, only a minority of organizations restricted all types of contact and communication between parties.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of openness in U.S. gamete donation policies across fertility clinics, egg donation agencies, and sperm banks. DESIGN: Primarily a content analysis of organizational materials (e.g., websites, brochures). SETTING: Not applicable. PARTICIPANT(S): A total of 219 fertility clinics, 100 egg donation agencies, and 30 sperm banks. INTERVENTION(S): Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Use of donor photographs, anonymity between parties, cycle outcome disclosure, and postcycle contact. RESULT(S): Agencies were more likely to provide donor photographs, have proactive policies to inform donors of the cycle outcome, and have nonanonymous options compared with sperm banks and clinics. Sperm banks were more likely to offer institutionalized donor identity-release programs. CONCLUSION(S): Clinics, agencies, and sperm banks have different policies to address the level of openness between donors, recipients, and donor-conceived children. Although agencies generally offer more open arrangements, only a minority of organizations restricted all types of contact and communication between parties.
Authors: Jason Keehn; Eve Holwell; Ruqayyah Abdul-Karim; Lisa Judy Chin; Cheng-Shiun Leu; Mark V Sauer; Robert Klitzman Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2012-07-27 Impact factor: 7.329