Current egg donor counseling often prioritizes short-term preparation over long-term emotional resilience
Exploring Donor Attitudes and Psychological Experiences in Anonymous and Identity-Release Oocyte Donation: A Systematic Review (Pote, 2025)
Pote, V., & Figueiredo, D. (2025). Exploring Donor Attitudes and Psychological Experiences in Anonymous and Identity-Release Oocyte Donation: A Systematic Review. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6034583/v1
Geographic Region: Studies reviewed came from multiple countries, primarily Sweden, Finland, UK, USA, Denmark, Canada, Russia, and Brazil.
Research Question: What are the psychological experiences, attitudes, motivations, and ethical considerations of oocyte donors in both anonymous and identity-release donation systems?
Design: Systematic review methodology following PRISMA guidelines. Researchers conducted an extensive literature search using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies on oocyte donor attitudes and psychological experiences published in English between 2000 and 2024.
Sample: The review examined 23 studies with varied sample sizes (ranging from 20 to 5,000 participants). Participants were oocyte donors from diverse donation systems including anonymous, identity-release, and directed donation to known recipients. Some studies included comparisons with sperm donors and/or recipients. Specific demographic characteristics (age, socioeconomic status, relationship status) varied across studies, though this information was often underreported.
Key Findings
65-95% of identity-release donors were willing to reveal their identities, valuing transparency and the right of donor-conceived individuals to access genetic information.
70-80% of anonymous donors preferred privacy, but 15-20% later expressed curiosity about offspring outcomes.
Altruism was the primary motivation across all donor types (85-95% of identity-release donors, 70-80% of anonymous donors).
Financial incentives were more important for anonymous donors (40-50%) than identity-release donors (5-15%).
Pre-donation ambivalence was present in 20-25% of donors, especially those with ethical concerns or relationship complexities.
Post-donation satisfaction was high (85-99%) across all donor categories, with only a small percentage expressing regret.
Donors in countries with identity-release legislation (Sweden, Finland) reported higher levels of psychological preparedness and satisfaction.
Directed donors (donating to friends/family) experienced unique emotional challenges, including feelings of obligation and role uncertainty.
Identity-release donors viewed their relationship with potential offspring as a genetic connection rather than a parental role.
Current counseling often prioritizes short-term preparation over long-term emotional resilience.
Limitations
Most studies focused on European countries (particularly Sweden and Finland) where identity-release systems are mandated by law, potentially limiting generalizability to regions with different legal frameworks.
Sample sizes varied considerably across studies, with some focusing on small donor subgroups.
Most studies were cross-sectional, capturing attitudes at a single point in time rather than tracking changes longitudinally.
Methodological heterogeneity (mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches) made direct comparison of findings challenging.
Limited inclusion of offspring perspectives on donor relationships.
Self-reported data may introduce biases in donor attitudes and experiences.
Lack of long-term data on the psychological and physical impacts of oocyte donation.
Applications: Pre-donation counseling addresses ambivalence and establishes realistic expectations. Post-donation counseling helps manage emotional changes, especially for anonymous donors experiencing curiosity. Clear legal frameworks provide psychological security and clarity about potential future contact.
Funding Source: No funding sources were specified
Lead Author: Vibha Pote is a researcher at Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, focusing on reproductive psychology and donor experiences.
Regulatory Context: The study discusses various regulatory frameworks across countries, highlighting that Sweden pioneered mandatory identity-release donation in 1985, granting donor-conceived individuals the legal right to access donor information upon reaching adulthood. Other countries with identity-release systems include Finland, UK, the Netherlands, Norway, and parts of Australia, while countries like the US lack comprehensive federal regulation, and others like Denmark provide both anonymous and identity-release options. These regulatory differences significantly influence donor attitudes, counseling practices, and psychological outcomes.