[Oocyte donation: ethical aspects related to the donor]

Abstract

This paper analyses the reasons that brings couples to apprehend very differently the oocyte and sperm donation and highlights the difficulty of donor recruitment in those programs. The various types of donors (occasional, relational, IVF patient and professional) are described with their motivations, resistances, advantages and disadvantages. The contradictory consequences between free or paid donation, the particular risks of eggs donation (in comparison to sperm donation) for the donor as for the recipient are also highlighted. The problem of anonymity is also analysed in ethical terms but also in terms of technical efficacy: it is shown that anonymity, by authorizing sharing oocytes between recipients increases treatment efficacy by avoiding wasting this rare and precious resource of oocytes offered as a donation.