Personal interest and attitudes towards oocyte donation practice: a cross-sectional survey among Dutch-speaking young women in Belgium.

PURPOSE

This survey aimed to assess the public's knowledge and opinions on oocyte donation (OD) among a large, unselected cohort of young Belgian women, and to explore aspects that could be enhanced to promote future OD programs.

METHODS

We conducted a quantitative, epidemiological, cross-sectional web-based survey from February 2023 to April 2023. A private questionnaire was distributed to young women (21-30 years) living in Belgium via a digital link. The survey covered socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge about the OD procedure, compensation, personal attitudes, motivations and perceptions about anonymity assurance.

RESULTS

A total of 390 women responded to the online questionnaire, with a drop-out rate of 10%. The survey revealed a good level of knowledge about the procedural aspects of OD, which did not influence willingness to donate. Only 19% of respondents were willing to donate, while 39.1% hesitated, particularly regarding private OD. No significant association was found between personal values and willingness to donate. Altruism emerged as the main motivation for gamete donation. Attitudes towards anonymity varied, with childless and older individuals more reluctant to reveal their identity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that a small portion of the population is willing to donate oocytes, while a considerable proportion (39%) is hesitating. These findings highlight the urgent need for global education programs to raise awareness and address concerns that may prevent women from participating in OD programs.