Perception of pain and the oocyte donor experience: a retrospective analysis of commercial US donors.

RESEARCH QUESTION

What is the relationship between oocyte donor characteristics and their pain perception, their expectation and experience of pain, and the interaction between pain and overall satisfaction with the donation process?

DESIGN

Institutional Review Board approved, retrospective survey of commercial, US oocyte donors was emailed to recent donors recruited through Donor Egg Bank USA before 2020.

RESULTS

Of the 503 opened emails, 246 individuals responded (48.9%). Most donors ranked their pain between minimal and moderate at all time points analysed. Altruistically motivated donors and parous donors were less likely to experience unexpected levels of pain. A high proportion (93.9%) of donors reported being informed of the risk of pain. Those who recalled being informed of the risk of pain were less likely to report higher levels of pain than expected. Although 94.2% of donors reported having an average to positive experience overall, 92.3% (12 out of 13 donors) in the group reporting a negative overall experience said they felt more pain than expected.

CONCLUSIONS

Donors were well informed about the risk of pain. Altruistically motivated donors and parous donors were less likely to experience unexpected levels of pain. Report of unexpected levels of pain was highly related to low donor satisfaction.