Fertility stakeholders’ concerns regarding payment for egg and sperm donation in New Zealand and Australia

Abstract

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Student views on recognition and payment options for gamete donation in New Zealand

“…In this study, few students had personal connections to gamete donors or recipients, yet personal knowledge of donor conception is associated with support for reimbursement, likely due to the greater emotional investment associated with personal connections. 15 This study also explored students' concerns in relation to the payment of donors beyond reimbursement costs. Overall, the 2,3,5,6,7,8 (1.13) 5.67 2,3,5,6,8 (1.18) 3.79** 2.…”

“…28 Those who are financially motivated are sometimes assumed to have qualities that are framed as undesirable, for example, to be driven by desires to promote their self-interest, to be materialistic or to be dishonest. 15,29 However, although financial motivations may be presented as undesirable and incompatible with altruistic motivations, this assumption has been contested in research, and financial and altruistic motivations may coexist. 18 There are also concerns that donors who are financially motivated may overtly misrepresent themselves in a positive manner and conceal important medical and psychological histories that have the potential to negatively impact a donor-conceived person.…”

“…The questionnaire was adapted from Goedeke et al 15,16 for use with the student population. Item content for this questionnaire was developed from relevant donor conception, gifting and compensation literature and piloted with a range of parties, including consumers, fertility professionals and members of the public to enhance content and face validity.…”

“…3,11 In contrast, altruistic motives of donating have predominantly been reported by donors who operate in non-commercial jurisdictions, 13,14 including in New Zealand. 15 This suggests that donor motivation may be shaped by the social, cultural and economic contexts within which donations occur. 16 However, motivations for donation can also be complex, and financial and altruistic motives may coexist.…”

“…Research on fertility stakeholders (donors, recipients, donor-conceived offspring, fertility professionals) in New Zealand and Australia has suggested support for reimbursement of expenses for donation, but not payment constituting financial reward, and has indicated significant concern about the potential impact of payment. 15,16 This research, however, focused on fertility stakeholders, and little is known about the views of New Zealand students.…”