Support for selling embryos among infertility patients

Objective

To determine the opinions of infertility patients regarding selling extra embryos, and to investigate the relation between patient choice and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Design

Cross-sectional, self-administered survey.

Setting

University hospital-based fertility center.

Patient(s)

1350 consecutive women who presented for infertility care.

Intervention(s)

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Patient opinion regarding selling extra embryos to other couples, and correlations with their demographic and socioeconomic background.

Result(s)

Of respondents with a definitive opinion, 56% felt that selling extra embryos to other couples should be allowed. After adjustment for observed predictors favoring selling extra embryos, we found statistically significantly lower support for selling embryos among patients who were Hispanic (relative to Caucasians) or had never been pregnant, whereas significantly greater support was observed among Hindu and secular women, patients being treated for male factor infertility, and those who in the past had or were currently undergoing intrauterine insemination. Age, education, marital status, and parity were not statistically significantly associated with the opinions about selling extra embryos to other couples.

Conclusion(s)

A large proportion of infertility patient participants approved of selling leftover embryos to other couples. However, some demographic and reproductive factors are significantly associated with patient opinion.

Key Words: In vitro fertilization, IVF, assisted reproductive technology, ART, embryos, cryopreservation, infertility, ethics, embryo adoption