Israeli students' perceptions regarding sperm donation: dilemmas reflections with dominant demographic effect.

BACKGROUND: Sperm donation has undergone significant medical and social transformations in recent decades. This study aimed to explore Israeli students' perceptions towards sperm donation and investigate the potential influence of demographic characteristics on these perceptions. DESIGN: The study encompassed 254 students from Tel-Aviv University, who completed an anonymous online survey in January-February 2021. This cross-sectional quantitative online survey, comprised 35 questions categorized into three sections: demographic data, assessment of prior knowledge, and perceptions of sperm donation (general perceptions related to both positive and negative stigmas associated with sperm donation, the roles and activities of sperm banks, and considerations surrounding identity disclosure versus the anonymity of sperm donors and their offspring). RESULTS: Participants exhibited a relatively low level of prior knowledge (mean 31.2 ± 19 of 100). Scores for positive and negative stigmas ranged from 1.3 to 2.2. Notably, the statement "Donors' anonymity preservation is crucial to maintain sperm donation" received a mean of 3.7. Seeking for anonymous sperm donation identity both by recipients and offspring was ranked with low means (1.5 and 1.7, respectively). However, the pursuit of half-siblings by mothers or siblings themselves received higher ratings ranging from 2.7 to 3. Women's stigma ranking were notably lower, while men emphasized the importance of donor anonymity. CONCLUSIONS: Sperm Banks hold a position of medical authority rather than being perceived as being commercial entity. The preservation of donor anonymity is widely accepted as a crucial element, prioritized over the requests for identity disclosure from recipients and offspring. Demographic parameters exhibit a strong and precise effects on participants' perceptions.

Sperm Donors' Identity Disclosure: Is It REALLY Crucial? For Whom?

OBJECTIVE: To study the preference of sperm donors with identity disclosure (ID) versus anonymous donors (AD) and to understand if this selection affects clinical outcomes in an Israeli population. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who chose imported sperm donation during 2017-2021. Of these, 526 used their own (autologous) oocytes and 43 patients used donated oocytes (DO). The primary endpoint was the type of chosen donor with ID versus AD. We examined the tendency toward ID according to demographic parameters and the theoretical impact of donor-type selection on reproductive outcome and compared patients who performed cycles with autologous oocytes with those using DO. RESULTS: Single women had a significantly higher probability of choosing sperm donors with ID than heterosexual couples (55.6% vs. 33.3%, OR 2.5, CI 95% 1.52-4.11, P < 0.001). Although not significant, same-sex couples were more likely to choose sperm donors with ID than heterosexual couples (49.1% vs. 33.3%, OR 1.93, CI 95% 0.97-3.85, P = 0.06). Sperm donor samples, 2501 vials, were imported. It was performed 698 intra-uterine insemination and 812 in vitro fertilization cycles were performed, respectively, resulting in 283 pregnancies without differences between patients who chose sperm donors with ID versus AD sperm. No significant differences were observed regarding the option for sperm donors with ID between patients using DO (44.2%) and those using autologous oocytes (51.3%). CONCLUSION: While ID is important for a certain section (mainly single) of recipients, it is far from the only dominant factor during donor selection. Sperm donation type does not impact clinical outcomes.

Motivational stimuli to donate sperm among non-donor students.

BACKGROUND: Sperm banks face a continuously evolving gap between the increasing demand for sperm donation (SD) vs. limited available reserve. To improve donors' recruitment and increase supply, motivations towards SD should be investigated specifically among young men who have the potential to become donors. Our aim was to evaluate factors which increase and decrease predisposition to donate sperm among non-donor students, who represent a "potential pool" for possible donors' recruitment. RESULTS: Ninety-three men fulfilled the questionnaire with mean age of 28.2 ± 4.5 years. The most powerful incentive to donate sperm was financial reward followed by a willingness to help others to build a family (3.8 and 3.4, respectively). The most dominant consideration to decline donation was the fear of anonymity loss and future regret (4 and 3.8). While participants' willingness for anonymous SD was fair (2.8), the open-identity donation was rated significantly lower (1.75, p < 0.01). Familiarity with recipients and offspring had lower scores (1.9-2.2) as well. CONCLUSIONS: Young single men represent a suitable cohort for anonymous donation. Financial reward and willingness to help others are important positive incentives while anonymity preservation is crucial to maintain their willingness towards SD. Regulatory shifting towards open-identity SD necessitates the establishment of an alternative "potential pool" population as a reliable source to recruit donors.

RéSUMé: CONTEXTE: Les banques de sperme font face à un écart en constante évolution entre la demande croissante de dons de sperme et les réserves disponibles limitées. Pour améliorer le recrutement des donneurs et augmenter l'offre, les motivations à l'égard du don de sperme devraient être étudiées spécifiquement chez les jeunes hommes qui ont le potentiel de devenir donneurs. Notre objectif était d'évaluer les facteurs qui augmentent et diminuent la prédisposition au don de sperme chez les étudiants non-donneurs, qui représentent un « bassin potentiel ¼ pour le recrutement possible de donneurs. RéSULTATS: Ninety-three hommes ont rempli le questionnaire avec un âge moyen de 28,2±4,5 ans. L'incitation la plus puissante à donner du sperme était la récompense financière, suivie de la volonté d'aider les autres à fonder une famille (3,8 et 3,4, respectivement). La considération la plus dominante pour refuser le don était la peur de perdre l'anonymat et les regrets futurs (4 et 3.8). Alors que la volonté des participants de faire un don anonyme de sperme était passable (2,8), le don d'identité ouverte a été jugé significativement plus faible (1,75, p<0,01). La familiarité avec les receveurs et la progéniture avait également des scores plus faibles (1,9-2,2). CONCLUSIONS: Les jeunes hommes célibataires représentent une cohorte appropriée pour le don anonyme. La récompense financière et la volonté d'aider les autres sont des incitations positives importantes, tandis que la préservation de l'anonymat est cruciale pour maintenir leur volonté de donner du sperme. L'évolution réglementaire vers le don de sperme à identité ouverte nécessite l'établissement d'une population alternative de « bassin potentiel ¼ comme source fiable pour recruter des donneurs.

Does the outcome of fresh embryo transfer affect the outcome of subsequent thawed embryo transfers from sibling oocytes in patients that utilized all their embryos?

The association between fresh embryo transfer (ET) outcome and the subsequent frozen-thawed (FET) cycles that follow is not clear, mainly because of incomplete embryo cohort utilization. The aim of this study was to determine if the outcome of a fresh ET affects the frozen cumulative clinical pregnancy (CP) and live birth (LB) rates resulting from the utilization of all surplus embryos from sibling oocytes. Outcome measures were the FET cumulative CP and LB rates. Multivariate logistic regression was performed for the frozen cumulative CP rate and adjusted for age, the number of oocytes, fresh ET outcome and other confounders. A total of 1313 cycles met the inclusion criteria. The FET cumulative CP and LB rates were not affected by the outcome of the fresh ET. The FET cumulative CP rate increased with the number of oocytes collected regardless of whether a pregnancy was achieved in the fresh cycle or not. In multivariate analysis, age (OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98), protocol (OR = 0.13, 95% CI 0.03-0.57) and the number of oocytes (OR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.07) were associated with the frozen cumulative CP rate. It is concluded that fresh ET does not impact the outcome of the vitrified-thawed embryos from the same oocyte cohort.

Stroke caregivers: pressing problems reported during the first months of caregiving.

The major purpose of this study was to identify the types and frequency of caregiving problems and associated stress and coping effectiveness. Secondary purposes were (a) to examine changes in problem frequency, stress, and coping effectiveness over time and (b) to identify relationships between problem stress and personal, illness, coping, and well-being variables. A stress and coping model guided the study. Fifty-eight caregivers participated during the first 4 months of caregiving. Caregiver and stroke survivor demographic and well-being data were collected during acute rehabilitation. Three problem-related themes emerged: interpersonal disruptions, sustaining the self and the family, and stroke survivor functioning. Although problems sustaining the self and the family were most frequent, interpersonal disruption problems were rated most stressful and lowest in coping effectiveness. A component of emotional distress, either anxiety or depression, was related significantly (p < .05) to the stress level of each problem theme. Counseling on problem-solving strategies may improve caregiver well-being.