Ethics aspects of third party reproduction

Abstract

Advances in science and technology have made it possible for women, men and couples who ordinarily would not have been able to have children, to conceive through assisted reproductive technology. Third party reproduction or donor-assisted reproduction is a form of reproduction in which DNA or gestation is provided by a third party or donor other than the two intended parents who will raise the resulting child. It includes donor sperms, donor eggs, donor embryos and surrogacy. The indications for gamete donation include patients with primary ovarian insufficiency, those who carry genetic diseases, same sex couples and those of advanced age. It is a journey that involves psychological preparation, legal issues, sociocultural issues and ethical issues. The gestational carriers are always known to the intended parents but the sperm, egg or embryo donors may be anonymous. In their assessment of 144 couples requiring egg donation, Baetens reported that 68.8% of the couples preferred to utilize egg from known donors as they fear the origin of the unknown genetic material. Those who preferred to use anonymous donors, wanted to establish explicit boundaries between themselves and the donors