Psychosocial aspects of oocyte donation in older couples

To summarize the recent studies addressing psychosocial aspects of advanced parental age in oocyte donation including treatment risks, motivations for participation, and impact on the children.

It is recommended that women aged 45 and older have a rigorous medical screening before participation in oocyte donation, but the risk of pregnancy complications for that age group remains a concern. There is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that paternal age has an unfavorable impact on assisted reproduction outcomes. Although there are limited data on the effect of parental age on the psychological wellbeing of children conceived through assisted reproduction, a recent study found that children of older mothers appear to be thriving as well as children born to younger mothers.

The trend toward delayed parenthood has resulted in a growing number of older couples entering oocyte donation programs. The literature has begun to address this phenomenon, but we need to learn more about psychosocial issues unique to older intended parents and their oocyte donation conceived children.