Emotional impact and psychological aspects involving treatments with donated oocytes

The number of cycles performed with egg donation increases every year. In Brazil, between 2020 and 2023, 3.754 pregnancies were obtained with the aid of egg reception. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the emotional impact and psychological aspects involving treatments with heterologous oocytes.

Data was collected between January 2021 and December 2022. In total 39 receptors answered the questionnaire.

All of them had partners with an average of 10.6 years of relationship (SD±5.7) and a mean of 5.3 years trying to conceive (SD±3.0). For 55.2% egg donation was a good treatment option, 31.5% thought it was a difficult decision at first but accepted it well later and 13.1% only accepted because they had no other option. Regarding reported emotions, 58.9% of participants felt calm even though 64.1% also felt anxious. In addition, 62.1% considered it important for their child's pediatrician or doctor to know that conception took place through egg donation and 67.5% agreed at least in part that it was important to tell their child how they conceived.

The study showed that most patients accepted egg donation as a good treatment option. Feelings such as anxiety and tranquility were presented in most patients, reflecting the variety of emotions concurrent with this process. The dilemma of whether to tell their offspring about their genetic origin was presented, in agreement with previous studies.