Racial and ethnic disparities among donor oocyte banks in the United States

Abstract

To determine whether racial and ethnic distributions of oocyte donors contributing to US oocyte banks differ from the demographics of US women and donor oocyte recipients. Cross-sectional study. United States donor oocyte banks, US census, and fertility clinics reporting to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System. Oocyte donors from 12 banks, women aged 18-44 years based on the 2019 census, and US recipients of cryopreserved donor oocytes from 2012 to2015. None. Proportions of donors identifying as each racial and ethnic group. Of the 1,574 oocyte donors, 678 (43.1%) identified as white compared with 54.8% of US women and 69.1% of donor oocyte recipients. Proportions of donors identifying as Hispanic or two or more races were larger than those of US women and donor oocyte recipients (Hispanic: 24.1% vs. 20.8%, and 24.1% vs. 8.8%, respectively; two or more races: 16.1% vs. 2.3%, and 16.1% vs. 0.5%, respectively). African American donors were underrepresented compared with US women (8.9% vs. 14.0%) and oocyte recipients (8.9% vs. 10.8%). Although the proportion of Asian donors was similar to that of US women (7.7% vs. 7.1%), Asian donors were underrepresented compared with donor oocyte recipients (7.7% vs. 10.6%). Racial and ethnic distribution of oocyte donors differs significantly from the demographics of US women and cryopreserved donor oocyte recipients. These data suggest a need for targeted recruitment of African American and Asian oocyte donors.