Support for recognition and payment options for egg and sperm donation in New Zealand and Australia

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) 2020-01, Vol.35 (1), p.117-129
• Main Authors: Goedeke, Sonja, Shepherd, Daniel, Rodino, Iolanda S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Australia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Male; Medical Tourism; New Zealand; Spermatozoa; Tissue Donors
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dez257

Abstract STUDY QUESTION To what extent do infertility clinic patients, fertility industry professionals and members of the public support different forms of payment and recognition for egg and sperm donation? SUMMARY ANSWER While participants expressed support for reimbursement of expenses for both egg and sperm donation, payment constituting explicit financial advantage was regarded less favourably although potentially necessary to address donor gamete shortages. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY In both New Zealand and Australia, commercial inducement for the supply of gametes is prohibited. This prohibition has been argued to contribute to limited availability of donor gametes with the effect of increasing waiting lists and/or the pursuit of potentially unregulated cross-border reproductive care by domestic patients requiring donor gametes. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION The study was a mixed methods study drawing on data from a questionnaire completed by 434 participants from across New Zealand and Australia between November 2018 and March 2019. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Stakeholders involved in donor-assisted conception (past and present infertility patients, gamete recipients and donors), fertility industry professionals and members of the public were recruited following online advertisement of the study. All participants spoke English and primarily identified as Caucasian. Participants anonymously completed an online questionnaire gauging their support for a range of recognition and payment options. Dependent samples t-tests were used to probe for differences in support of recognition and payment options in relation to egg and sperm donation. Linear regression models were used to determine factors predicting support for the different options for both egg and sperm donation. Thematic analysis was used to identify main themes in free text question responses. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Broadly, there was agreement that donors be reimbursed for medical expenses, travel time, unpaid time away from work relating to treatments and out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the gamete donation process, with greater support suggested for egg versus sperm donors. Items gauging support for non-material recognition and tokens of thanks for donations were not significantly different between egg and sperm donation programmes (P > 0.05) nor rated as highly as reimbursement alternatives. Lowest ratings of support were indicated for the outright payment or