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The Long-Term Psychologic and Social Effects of Gamete Donation

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Technology and Infertility

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Abstract

Medical and mental health professionals involved in therapeutic donor insemination (TDI) have a multitude of happy stories—baby pictures, telephone calls from ecstatic parents, repeat performances. For many couples TDI is an excellent method of family building. Over the last few years, however, many of us have become increasingly concerned with our lack of substantive knowledge about possible longterm psychologic effects of gamete donation, and the consequent inadequacy of our informed consent process. Most practitioners are very good at detailing the physical risks of TDI, and can talk at great length about potential infection, the risk of congenital anomalies, and the controversy of using fresh vs. frozen sperm. We acknowledge with our patients the probable benefits of couples experiencing pregnancy together and avoiding the costs and stresses of adoption. What is less certain is the degree to which we carefully and knowledgeably prepare couples to make intelligent decisions about possible psychological risks associated with TDI. What do we really know about the potential emotional or social consequences of sperm or ovum donation for individuals who choose these therapies, for their marriages and extended family units, or for the lives and self-perceptions of their donor offspring?

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Authors
  1. Judith Bernstein
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, USA

    Machelle M. Seibel M.D.

  2. Faulkner Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, 02130, USA

    Machelle M. Seibel M.D.  & Judith Bernstein R.N., M.S.  & 

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© 1993 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Bernstein, J. (1993). The Long-Term Psychologic and Social Effects of Gamete Donation. In: Seibel, M.M., Bernstein, J. (eds) Technology and Infertility. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9205-7_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9205-7_32

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-9207-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-9205-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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