The Library

Embryo donation parents' attitudes towards donors : comparison with adoption

Tools

MacCallum, Fiona. (2008) Embryo donation parents' attitudes towards donors : comparison with adoption. Human Reproduction, Vol.24 (No.3). pp. 517-523. ISSN 0268-1161

Preview

PDF
WRAP_Maccallum_edited_HUMREP_08_0833_R1.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download (183Kb)

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/den386

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Embryo donation produces a family structure where neither rearing parent is genetically related to the child, as in adoption. It is not known how embryo donation parents view the donors compared with how adoptive parents view the birth parents. METHODS: 21 couples with an embryo donation child aged 2–5 years were compared with 28 couples with an adopted child. Parents were administered a semi-structured interview, assessing knowledge of the donors/birth parents, frequency of thoughts and discussions about the donors/birth parents and disclosure of the donor conception/adoption to the child. Comparisons were made between mothers and fathers to examine gender differences. RESULTS: Embryo donation parents generally knew only the donors’ physical characteristics, and thought about and talked about the donors less frequently than adoptive parents thought about and talked about the birth parents. Embryo donation fathers tended to think about the donors less often than did mothers. Disclosure of the child's origins in embryo donation families was far less common than in adoptive families (P < 0.001 for mothers and fathers), and was associated with the level of donor information (P < 0.05 for mothers, P < 0.025 for fathers). CONCLUSIONS: Embryo donation parents’ views on the donors differ from adoptive parents’ views on the birth parents, with donors having little significance in family life once treatment is successful.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Parent and child, Human reproductive technology, Birthparents, Human reproduction, Adoption, Artificial insemination, human
Journal or Publication Title:	Human Reproduction
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	0268-1161
Date:	2 October 2008
Volume:	Vol.24
Number:	No.3
Page Range:	pp. 517-523
Identification Number:	10.1093/humrep/den386
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
References:	BAAF (2008) Adoption. Retrieved August 5, 2008, from http://www.baaf.org.uk/info/firstq/adoption.shtml Brewaeys, A., Golombok, S., Naaktgeboren, N., de Bruyn, J. K. and van Hall, E. V. (1997) Donor insemination: Dutch parents' opinions about confidentiality and donor anonymity and the emotional adjustment of their children. Human Reproduction, 12, 1591-1597. Brewaeys, A. (2001) Review: Parent-child relationships and child development in donor insemination families. Human Reproduction Update, 7, 38-46. Brodzinsky, D., Smith, D. W. and Brodzinsky, A. B. (1998) Children's adjustment to adoption. Developmental and clinical issues., Sage Publications, London. Cook, R., Golombok, S., Bish, A. and Murray, C. (1995) Disclosure of donor insemination: Parental attitudes. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 65, 549-559. Daniels, K. and Taylor, K. (1993) Secrecy and openness in donor insemination. Politics and Life Sciences, 12, 155-170. Daniluk, J. C. (1988) Infertility: Intrapersonal and interpersonal impact. Fertility and Sterility, 49, 982-990. Freeman, E. W., Boxer, A. S., Rickels, K., Tureck, R. and Mastroianni, L. (1985) Psychological evaluation and support in a program of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertility and Sterility, 43, 48-53. Golombok, S., Murray, C., Jadva, V., MacCallum, F. and Lycett, E. (2004) Families created through a surrogacy arrangement: Parent-child relationships in the first year of life. Developmental Psychology, 40, 400-411. HFEA (2008) For Parents of Donor-conceived Children. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://www.hfea.gov.uk/en/1185.html Klock, S. C. and Greenfeld, D. A. (2004) Parents' knowledge about the donors and their attitudes towards disclosure in oocyte donation. Human Reproduction, 19, 1575-1579. London Women's Clinic (2006) Patient Information Leaflet: Donor Insemination. Retrieved Jul 20, 2008, from http://www.londonwomensclinic.com/download/DI%20Info%2006.12.07.pdf MacCallum, F. and Golombok, S. (2007) Embryo donation families: Mothers' decisions regarding disclosure of donor conception. Human Reproduction, 22, 2888-2895. MacCallum, F., Golombok, S. and Brinsden, P. (2007) Parenting and child development in families with a child conceived by embryo donation. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 278-287. McGee, G., Brakman, S. and Gurmankin, A. D. (2001) Disclosure to children conceived with donor gametes should not be optional. Human Reproduction, 16, 2033-2036. Merari, D., Chetrit, A. and Modan, B. (2002) Emotional reactions and attitudes prior to in vitro fertilization: An inter-spouse study. Psychology and Health, 17, 629-240. Murray, C. and Golombok, S. (2003) To tell or not to tell: The decision-making process of egg donation parents. Human Fertility, 6, 89-95. Nachtigall, R., Becker, G. and Wozny, M. (1992) The effects of gender-specific diagnosis on men's and women's response to infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 57, 113-121. Nachtigall, R. (1993) Secrecy: An unresolved issue in the practice of donor insemination. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 168, 1846-1853. Nachtigall, R. D., Pitcher, L., Tschann, J. M., Becker, G. and Szkupinski Quiroga, S. (1997) Stigma, disclosure and family functioning among parents of children concieved through donor insemination. Fertility and Sterility, 68, 83-89. OPCS and Employment Department Group (1991) Standard Classification of Occupations, HMSO, London. Patrizio, P., Mastroianni, A. C. and Mastroianni, L. (2001) Disclosure to children conceived with donor gametes should be optional. Human Reproduction, 16, 2033-2036. Paul, M. S. and Berger, R. (2007) Topic avoidance and family functioning in families conceived with donor insemination. Human Reproduction, 22, 2566-2571. Peterson, B. D., Newton, C. R., Rosen, K. H. and Skaggs, G. E. (2006) Gender differences in how men and women who are referred for IVF cope with infertility stress. Human Reproduction, 21, 2443-2449. Robinson, G. E. and Stewart, D. E. (1996) The psychological impact of infertility and new reproductive technologies. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 4, 168-172. Ryburn, M. (1996) A Study of Post-adoption Contact in Compulsory Adoptions. British Journal of Social Work, 26, 627-646. Scheib, J., Riordan, M., and Rubin, S. (2003) Choosing identity-release sperm donors: the parents' perspective 13-18 years later. Human Reproduction, 18, 1115-1127. Scheib, J., Riordan, M., and Rubin, S. (2005) Adolescents with open-identity sperm donors: reports from 12-17 year olds. Human Reproduction, 20, 239-252. Shenfield, F. and Steele, S. J. (1997) What are the effects of anonymity and secrecy on the welfare of the child in gamete donation? Human Reproduction, 12, 392-395. Soderstrom-Antilla, V., Foudila, T., Ripatti, U. and Siegberg, R. (2001) Embryo donation: outcome and attitudes among embryo donors and recipients. Human Reproduction, 16, 1120-1128. Triseliotis, J., Shireman, J. and Hundleby, M. (1997) Adoption: Theory, policy and practice, Redwood Books, London. Trounson, A., Leeton, J., Besanka, M., Wood, C. and Conti, A. (1983) Pregnancy established in an infertile patient after transfer of a donated embryo fertilized in vitro. British Medical Journal, 286, 835-838. Turner, A., and Coyle, A. (2000) What does it mean to be a donor offspring? The identity experiences of adults conceived by donor insemination and the implications for counselling and therapy. Human Reproduction, 15, 2041-2051. Webb, R. E. and Daniluk, J. C. (1999) The end of the line. Infertile men's experiences of being unable to produce a child. Men and Masculinities, 2, 6-25. Widdows, H. and MacCallum, F. (2002) Disparities in parenting criteria: An exploration of the issues, focusing on adoption and embryo donation. Journal of Medical Ethics, 28, 139-142.
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/387