Confidence in the use of donor insemination: an evaluation of the impact of participating in a group preparation programme

Abstract

This paper argues that infertility can result in a range of negative emotional reactions, including a lack of confidence. This is more marked when donor insemination (DI) is used because of the additional shame this is associated with. Parents who do not feel confident may be less likely to share information about their use of DI with others and their child. Legislation in several countries has been introduced to abolish donor anonymity, but this has does not necessarily have an impact on parental confidence. In order to evaluate whether educational preparation programmes can impact on parental confidence and their intention to share information about DI, the confidence levels of 60 participants of three seminars were examined at three different points in time: before, immediately after and several months after attending the programme. Results indicate that most participants' confidence increased markedly as a result of attending an educational seminar. Furthermore, this increased confidence also impacted positively on the intention to share information about DI with future children. Both remained high several months after having attended the programme. These results point out that group preparation programmes can enhance levels of confidence, both as treatment is begun and as family building is undertaken.

The views of adult offspring of sperm donation: essential feedback for the development of ethical guidelines within the practice of assisted reproductive technology in the United States

“…Results of a recent study of a group counseling program for donor procedures indicated that its 60 participants had markedly increased confidence as a result of attending an educational seminar (27). This increased confidence impacted positively on their intention to share information about donor conception with future children.…”

How Couples' Experiences prior to the Start of Infertility Treatment with Donor Gametes Influence the Disclosure Decision

“…Firstly, the experienced shortage of information, the lack of a consumer group for support, the lack of research on TPR families with an anonymous donor can enhance feelings of insecurity (and stigma) [37,38], making it harder to cope with these challenges and instigate the search for support with close family, friends. Secondly, the practice of a limited number of mandatory sessions prior to starting a TPR program might contain the risk that couples experience staff approval as a confirmation of having worked through the process of TPR rather than encouraging an ongoing process.…”

It ‘did what it said on the tin’ – Participant's views of the content and process of donor conception parenthood preparation workshops

“…Couples (especially lesbian couples) were more likely to respond than SW, with many couples ' responses (86%) completed by both partners. Workshops built on German seminars with HCs considering DI (Thorn & Daniels, 2003;Daniels et al, 2007) to include lesbian couples, SW and those considering egg, embryo or double donation. An earlier paper reported the impact on treatment decision-making and on confi dence/comfort levels with disclosure (Crawshaw & Montuschi, 2013).…”

“…Their intention was to tackle assumed adverse infl uences of shame and lowered confi dence. Outcomes included improved confi dence in the use of DI and intentions to be open, lowered partner differences and positive views about sharing experiences with peers (Thorn & Daniels, 2003;Daniels et al, 2007). No similar interventions have been identifi ed elsewhere although the need for greater attention to donor conception parenthood preparation was recently identifi ed (Nuffi eld Council on Bioethics, 2013).…”