Couples' willingness to donate embryos for research: a longitudinal study.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Embryology
• Psychosocial Research

Background:

• Embryo disposition decisions cause distress and can change over time.
• Understanding couples' willingness to donate embryos for research is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the willingness of in vitro fertilization couples to donate cryopreserved embryos for research.
• To assess changes in donation willingness from 15 days to 12 months post-embryo transfer.
• To identify psychosocial, demographic, and reproductive factors influencing donation decisions.

Main Methods:

• Prospective longitudinal study of 74 heterosexual couples undergoing in vitro fertilization.
• Evaluations conducted at two time points: 15 days and 12 months after embryo transfer.
• Analysis of willingness to donate cryopreserved embryos for research.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in embryo donation willingness was observed over 12 months (86.5% to 73.6%).
• Higher education, perceiving research as less important, and infrequent religious practice were associated with unwillingness to donate.
• Shifts in donation decisions were linked to initial views on embryo waste and subsequent pregnancy outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Patient characteristics, values, and needs should guide quality of care in fertility treatments.
• Psychosocial guidelines for infertility and assisted reproduction should address factors influencing embryo donation decisions.
• Longitudinal understanding of couples' perspectives is essential for supportive care.