Psycho-emotional acceptance in couple and single women who choose to undergo IVF treatment with donor eggs

Abstract

New family configurations are emerging concurrently with improved assisted reproduction techniques, including the use of donated gametes. Most indications for treatment when using donated eggs are caused by an age-related decrease in reproductive capacity. We evaluated the emotional state regarding accepting egg donation in participants who chose this option for in vitro fertilization cycles. This is a retrospective, Brazilian cohort study, based on data collected from sixty psychological counseling sessions with participants that opted to be enrolled in an egg donation program. A single professional conducted semi-structured psychological counselling sessions. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis as the qualitative methodology. Two years after the psychological counseling sessions, participants were contacted to obtain information about their outcomes. Of 60 sessions, 19 (32%) were classified as involving participants with positive emotional state (group 1), 14 (23%) with unfavorable emotional state (group 2), and 27 (45%) without evident classification (group 3). Three couples did not undergo treatment until two years after the psychological counselling session and the other couples underwent treatment in a period ranging from 1-8 months after the session. This is the first study in the Brazilian population regarding the acceptance of egg donation. The process of acceptance of infertility and the impossibility to have a biological child is fundamental to gradually accepting a new way of becoming a parent. Psychological counseling can contribute to reflecting on the use of donated eggs, exploring its emotional implications and identifying the need for psychotherapeutic work to address conflict and suffering.