Psychological characteristics and factors related to willingness to donate again among anonymous oocyte donors.

Objective: To assess post-donation psychological status of a large sample of professionally recruited, paid anonymous donors and to determine whether there were any differences between those who were willing to donate again and those who were not.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Healthy donors who were recruited by two private groups.

Subject(s): One hundred fifteen donors who had completed at least one donation cycle at one of six IVF programs in a large Midwestern city.

Intervention(s): None.

Main Outcome Measures: Self-report questionnaire assessing psychological symptoms, self-esteem, expectations, satisfaction, and attitudes toward donation.

Result(s): Psychological symptomatology and self-esteem were in the normal range. Altruism and compensation were the two most frequently cited motivators for donation. Of the donors, 82% were moderately to very satisfied with the donation experience. First-time donors were significantly younger, reported more post-donation psychiatric symptoms, and had slightly lower self-esteem. Of the donors, 35% stated they would donate again; 37% would not, and 28% were undecided. Donors who were willing to donate again reported significantly less ambivalence about donation and significantly greater satisfaction with the medical aspects of donation.

Conclusion(s): Approximately one third of donors are willing to donate more than once. These women report less ambivalence and greater satisfaction with the donation experience.