P-565 Egg donor perceptions of anonymity and ancestry testing in the United States and Spain
Authors: Tober D , Jociles Rubio M I , Konvalinka N , Simms S 
Published: June 2023

Study question

How do compensated egg donors in two different cultural and regulatory settings view anonymous donation and understand the implications of consumer ancestry testing?

Summary answer

Spanish and U.S. egg donors differ in their desire for anonymity, awareness of consumer ancestry testing, and the implications of ancestry testing for maintaining anonymity.

What is known already

In the literature, many have expressed concern that without the promise of anonymity people would be unwilling to donate eggs and sperm. A related concern is that the rise in consumer ancestry testing will mean the end of anonymous donation and therefore contribute to a reduction in donors.

Study design, size, duration

This is a mixed-methods study drawing upon surveys and interviews with oocyte donors in the United States (341) and Spain (126). The study was conducted between the years of 2018 and 2022 and included participants from multiple fertility clinics throughout Spain and the United States.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

This is a multi-sited study. Participants include current and former compensated oocyte donors who completed an online REDCap survey. Text boxes were provided in the survey so the participant could elaborate where appropriate. A subset of donors (200 U.S. and 76 Spain) in each location agreed to participate in a semi-structured, open-ended interview with one of the investigators. Interviews were conducted in person or over Zoom in the participant’s language of choice.

Main results and the role of chance

Of 341 U.S. respondents, nearly two-thirds (214, 63%) preferred that open or known donation rather than anonymous. Of the Spanish respondents, 38% stated they would prefer non-anonymous donation, 50% were unsure, and 11% stated they would not want non-anonymous donation. Both groups, 178 US (52%) and 57 Spain (51.4%), equally expressed a desire to someday meet the people born from their eggs or would be open to contact to share medical information. Of the U.S. donors, only 17 (5%) expressed a desire for no future contact with the people born from their donations, while 9 (8.7%) of the Spanish donors expressed desire for no future contact. U.S. donors were almost unanimously aware of the existence of consumer ancestry testing and 66 (19%) had attempted to use such tests to either find their donor-conceived offspring or make themselves available to be found. Among 111 Spanish respondents, 24 (21.6%) were not aware that consumer ancestry testing exists or that it could be used to find them, but 57 (51.35%) expressed a desire to be found if it were to become more widely used in Spain. Findings indicate that egg donors in both locations are mostly open to the idea of non-anonymous donation.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Study limitations include a potential bias in the survey sample as it is possible that people who participate in research might be more open than those who do not. We attempted to ameliorate this possibility by recruiting participants from a wide range of clinics, practices, and other sources.

Wider implications of the findings

Findings indicate that concerns surrounding the impact of consumer ancestry testing and the loss of anonymity for donors are overestimated. While there are cultural differences surrounding donation in the U.S. and Spain, assumptions surrounding oocyte donors’ desires for anonymity are not well-aligned with donor sentiments in either location.

Trial registration number

not applicable