Counselling on Disclosure of Gamete Donation to Donor Offspring:a Search for Facts

Overview

Journal Facts Views Vis Obgyn

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2014 Apr 23

PMID 24753905

Citations 2

Authors

M Visser

P A L Kop

M van Wely

F van der Veen

G J E Gerrits

M C B van Zwieten

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: High quality counseling of potential parents is needed in the process of disclosure to donor offspring, which is important for the child and for family relationships. We performed a search for facts to identify the role of counseling in couples undergoing gamete donation.

Methods: We systematically searched Pubmed, EMBASE and Psychinfo. Studies were included if they reported on counseling in gamete donation.

Results: A total of 20 studies were included. Twelve studies stated that counselling was offered. The reported studies reflected no consensus about when and how counselling in gamete donation should be offered and no theoretical background of the disclosure/ secrecy issue. About 50% of the parents expressed the need for guidance and support of a counsellor. Special concerns were the disclosure issue and the future contact with the donor. Parents did not receive the guidance and support they needed in the disclosure process after treatment.

Conclusion: Empirical knowledge on counselling is lacking. This review demonstrates the need to know more precisely at what moments couples should be counselled, and which specific information and guidelines couples need to receive to be more confident in the disclosure process to donor offspring.

Citing Articles

Alpha Test of the Donor Conception Tool to Empower Parental Telling and Talking.

Hershberger P, Gallo A, Adlam K, Steffen A, Driessnack M, Grotevant H J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2022; 51(5):536-547.

PMID: 35922017 PMC: 9474702. DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2022.06.039.

Donor Conception Disclosure: Directive or Non-Directive Counselling?.

Raes I, Ravelingien A, Pennings G J Bioeth Inq. 2016; 13(3):369-79.

PMID: 27116204 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-015-9686-9.

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