Counsellors' practices in donor sperm treatment

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Psychology
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Donor sperm treatment (DST) presents unique psychosocial challenges for intended parents, including genetic ties, disclosure, and future contact.
• Professional counseling is recommended to navigate these complex implications.
• Understanding current counseling practices is essential for improving support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and present findings on how counselors execute their practices in donor sperm treatment.
• To identify variations and influencing factors in current psychosocial counseling for DST.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study was conducted with 13 counselors from 11 Dutch clinics offering DST.
• Data were gathered through focus group discussions and individual semi-structured interviews.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze transcribed interview data.

Main Results:

• Counselors often combined screening and guidance within a single session.
• Significant practice variations were observed, stemming from individual knowledge, clinical experience, and differing opinions on discussed issues.
• Clinic admission policies also contributed to varied counseling approaches.

Conclusions:

• There is a notable lack of consistency in psychosocial counseling practices for donor sperm treatment.
• The study highlights the need for evidence-based guidelines to reduce practice variation and ensure standardized, high-quality care.
• Developing such guidelines will support intended parents more effectively through their donor conception journey.