Psycho social experiences of oocyte donors during the donation process : a qualitative study

Psycho social experiences of oocyte donors during the donation process : a qualitative study
Elham Adibmoghaddam,^1,* Ashraf Kazemi,² Gholamreza Kheirabadi,³ Seyyed Mehdi Ahmadi,⁴
1. Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
2. Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
3. Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4. Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, Isfahan, Iran
Introduction: In recent decades, one of the most prevalent methods for the couples who, for various reasons, have little chance of conceiving with autologous oocytes is the use of oocyte donation in assisted reproductive technology. This techniques that can undermine the mental health of the women donor. Therefore, the present study aimed to explain the experiences of Iranian oocyte donors during the donation process.
Methods: Data were collected from a hospital-based IVF clinic located in Isfahan city in Iran on 30 oocyte donors. Semi-structured interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim using inductive content analysis method. Purposeful sampling was performed with the strategy of selecting the maximum diversity samples.
Results: Analyzing the data, the three main categories of decision-making challenge, the consequences of participation in assisted reproductive treatment, and the contrast between the self-image and social-image of the donor were inferred.
Conclusion: The findings of the study showed that while donor women consider the spiritual side of their donation, they imagine others' negative view towards it. Therefore, in order to create a positive experience of the donation process, the design of an intervention programs for the promotion of physical and psychological health of the donors seems to be essential.
Keywords: Oocyte donor; Qualitative study; Assisted reproduction technique