P-221: Decision for Disclosure: The Experiences of Infertile Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Donation Procedures

Background: Controversy surrounding disclosure among the recipients of assisted reproductive donation procedures is escalating worldwide, whereas little research has been conducted in this area .The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive donation procedures in relation to their decision for disclosure. Materials and Methods: In an exploratory qualitative study 15 infertile women who were candidate to use donor egg, donor embryo or surrogacy were purposively selected from Montaserieh Infertility Research Center at Mashhad, Iran and interviewed using semi-structured method. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Member check and peer debriefing were used to ensure trustworthiness. Results: Two broad themes were identified: The recipient’s decision to inform family members and friends and the recipient’s decision to inform the resulting child. Most recipients decided not to inform family members and friends from using of donation procedures. The reasons for this decision were: negative values and beliefs of society, people's secret talk, social stigma, concern about potential harm of disclosure, fear of other’s judgment, absence of compelling reason to disclose, and other’s advice. Few women decided to disclose the issue due to family support, being released from internal pressure, and spouse view. Regarding informing the resulting child, most recipients decided not to inform the child from reproductive process. The rationales for this decision included welfare of the child, child’s protection and acceptance of the child by others, concern about the child’s possible reaction, and absence of compelling reason for disclosure. Women with potential decision for disclosure indicated that changes in vision of society and improvement of the social climate with passage of time may direct them to disclose the issue to the child. Conclusion: The main reason for secrecy was the concern of the societal negative views about assisted reproductive donation procedures. This worry itself deprives the women from family and friends’ support and as a result causes tolerating the psychological pressure of using such procedures. It is therefore suggested to make people informed of donation procedures as a therapeutic approach for infertility through media in order to alter public views and also enhance the social recognition of these procedures, which will mediate infertile women's concerns.