ATTITUDES OF DIFFERENT GROUPS OF WOMEN IN SWEDEN TO OOCYTE DONATION AND OOCYTE RESEARCH

Objectives. To evaluate attitudes of Swedish women towards oocyte dona tion and oocyte research. Methods. Five different groups of women, wit h approximately 50 patients in each, were asked anonymously about thei r attitudes to legislation, tentative roles as donors or recipients, a nonymity, suitable donors or recipients, research on fetuses and cadav ers as a source of oocytes, age limits and economic aspects. The group s were: 1. Women undergoing IVF treatment (IVF). 2. Infertile women du ring work-up (INF). 3. Recently delivered women attending a maternity unit (MAT). 4. Women attending a family planning center applying for t herapeutic abortion (FPC). 5. Women with Turner's syndrome (TUR). Resu lts. More than 90% of women in all groups investigated advocated amend ment of the law in order to permit oocyte donation. The women of infer tile groups were more in favor of donating oocytes compared to women o f fertile groups (p<0.05). A. great majority would prefer anonymity bo th if they were donors and if they were recipients. If no anonymity wa s guaranteed, the acceptance of both the donor and recipient groups de creased but more than half of the women in all groups would still dona te/accept oocytes. There was a significant difference in attitude towa rds non-anonymous oocyte donation, with the highest acceptance among T urner patients and the lowest among IVF patients (p<0.01). A majority in all groups were more motivated to donate/accept oocytes from a clos e relative, with the exception of Turner patients (p<0.01). All groups had a negative attitude to the use of donated fetuses and cadavers as sources of oocytes. IVF patients, close relatives and volunteers were all regarded as suitable donors by a majority of women in all groups. Women of fertile age, with ovarian failure or a genetic disorder, wer e accepted as recipients by all groups. Postmenopausal women were not accepted as recipients by a great majority in all groups. All groups p referred an age limit for recipients. More than 70% set the limit to t he interval 40 to 45 years of age. A majority in all groups believed t hat donors should be paid to cover medication and loss of income. The recipients were expected, by a majority of women, to pay for some of t he costs of the oocyte donation program. Conclusions. A great majority wanted a change in the Swedish legislation to permit oocyte donation. All groups had a generous attitude to donation of oocytes although an onymity would be preferred. Ovarian dysfunction and genetic disorders among women of fertile age were regarded as major indications for oocy te donation. IVF patients, close relatives and volunteers were all reg arded as acceptable donors.