Abstract
Research questionWhat are the unmet needs after psychosocial counselling and mental health of women who opt for donor sperm treatment (DST), and are unmet counselling needs related to their mental health? DesignThis quantitative study included women in a heterosexual relationship (n = 19), women in a lesbian relationship (n = 25) and single women (n = 51) who opted for DST. Women were included if they had passed the DST intake procedure at a Dutch fertility clinic, were not pregnant and had no previous donor-child. Unmet needs were measured by a self-developed questionnaire based on specific topics identified in a previous qualitative study with added items from experts in the field of DST. The Adult Self Report was used to measure mental health. Relationships between unmet counselling needs and mental health were explored by multiple regression analyses. ResultsFifty-two women (55%) reported unmet counselling needs. Women in heterosexual relationships mostly had unmet counselling needs on the topics of the decision to opt for DST (n = 11, 58%) and non-genetic parenthood (n = 11, 58%); women in lesbian relationships (n = 10, 40%) and single women (n = 14, 27%) mostly had unmet needs on the topic of choosing a sperm donor. In general, women had good mental health, but 13 (14%) met the criteria for clinical mental health problems. Women with more unmet counselling needs also had more mental health problems. ConclusionsEvidence-based guidelines for psychosocial counselling in DST should be developed. Only then can counselling be improved and be fit for purpose.
Highlights
Women in heterosexual relationships mostly had unmet counselling needs on the topics of the decision to opt for donor sperm treatment (DST) (n = 11, 58%) and non-genetic parenthood (n = 11, 58%); women in lesbian relationships (n = 10, 40%) and single women (n = 14, 27%) mostly had unmet needs on the topic of choosing a sperm donor
These topics were the decision to opt for DST, choosing a sperm donor, coping with questions from family and friends, non-genetic parenthood, single motherhood, openness and disclosure, and future contact between the child and the donor and half-siblings
There were eight topics with 39 items: the decision to opt for DST, choosing a sperm donor, practical aspects of treatment, coping with questions from family and friends, non-genetic parenthood, single motherhood, openness and disclosure, and future contact between the child and the donor and half-siblings
Summary
Intended parents – men and women in heterosexual relationships, women in lesbian relationships and single women – who opt for donor sperm treatment (DST) are faced with several psychosocial implications of donor conception, such as bonding between the non-genetic parent and the child, disclosure of donor-conception to the child and people around them, future contact between the child and the donor, and even stigmatization (Bos and van Balen, 2010; Cousineau and Domar, 2007; Gartrell et al, 1999; Golombok et al, 2005; Jadva et al, 2009; Murray and Golombok, 2005; Papadatou et al, 2016; Visser et al, 2016). This indicates the presence of unmet counselling needs in intended parents
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