Reproductive Ethics · ART Ethics
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2016 · Fertility and sterility
Building families through the adoption of children has been supported by human society throughout history. The ethical appropriateness of patients donating embryos to other patients for family building, or for research, is well established and is affirmed by this Committee. The use of the term ''adoption'' for embryos is inaccurate and should be avoided. This document replaces the ASRM Ethics Committee statement by the same name, last published in 2013 (Fertil Steril 2013;99:1846-7).
Reproductive Ethics · Third Party Reproduction
Indekeu A, 2025 · Human Reproduction
Abstract
The general point of view on disclosure of the donor conception to the offspring experienced a major change over the years. From the outset, non-disclosure was imposed by medical professionals. Decades of debates followed, discussing if disclosure or non-disclosure would be in the best interest of the donor-conceived person, before the recommendation to disclose the donor conception to the offspring was integrated in professional guidelines such as those of ASRM (2013) and ESHRE (2024). This change in view was supported by research findings showing that late disclosure (and often discovery) has a negative impact on the wellbeing of donor-conceived people, that early disclosure is not burdensome for donor-conceived children (moreover, it is preferred by donor-conceived people), and that early disclosure is associated with better well-being of donor-conceived people during adolescence. Moreover, societal changes, such as the technological development of direct-to-consumer-genetic testing, have made non-disclosure impossible. Lastly, the framing of disclosure as a question concerning ‘the best interest’ of donor-conceived people has been replaced by a framework that information about one’s origin concerns a fundamental human right.
Not only did the recommendation regarding disclosure/non-disclosure changed, also the knowledge about disclosure increased. While initially disclosure was often approached as a dichotomous act, research findings showed that disclosure occurs much more in layers. Moreover, disclosure is not a one-off activity, but (as preferred by donor-conceived people themselves) an ongoing conversation over the family-life course, that continues when the child grows up. Besides, disclosure is not a unilateral process in which only parents take up an active role, but it is an interactive process in which parent and child co-create their family-story. Lastly, disclosure does not only concern the origins of the child, but it is also a family-building story, in which parents formed their family in a different way they initially imagined.
In relation to the actual disclosure process, studies have shown that parental confidence is generally associated with disclosure and a lack of confidence (including uncertainty around the language to use, the best way and time to disclose, and finding the information difficult to share) is associated with non-disclosure. A recent literature review showed that many participants across studies reported feelings of being unprepared, isolation and anxiety around the disclosure decision and process, and express a desire for support. Parents would like to hear experiences from other parents and to have access to resources, such as storybooks and movies, and networking opportunities for the donor-conceived people as they might enhance feeling comfortable with the disclosure process. However, support and advice were not always provided.
This presentation reviews the latest existing empirical data regarding the disclosure-process (factors that might influence the process, outcomes, experiences of parents and donor-conceived people) and will especially address how, psychosocial as well as medical, professionals can support families in their ongoing conversation about their family-building, pre-, during and post-treatment. Furthermore, challenges and limitations of offering ongoing support will be discussed as well, based on an inquiry conducted in 10 jurisdictions.
Reproductive Ethics · ART Ethics
Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force et al., 2020 · Fertility and sterility
Scientific research using human embryos advances human health and offspring well-being and provides vital insights into the mechanisms for reproduction and disease. Research involving human embryos is ethically acceptable if it is likely to provide significant new knowledge that may benefit human health, well-being of the offspring, or reproduction.
Reproductive Ethics · ART Ethics
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2019 · Fertility and sterility
This Ethics Committee report outlines the interests, obligations, and rights of all parties involved in gamete and embryo donation: both males and females who choose to provide gametes or embryos for use by others, recipients of donated gametes and embryos, individuals born as a result of gamete or embryo donation, and the programs that provide donated gametes and embryos to patients. This document replaces the document "Interests, obligations, and rights of the donor in gamete donation," last published in 2014.