Scholars@Duke publication: A survey study evaluating donor gamete utilization rates, patient satisfaction, and fertility treatment outcomes according to desired race and ethnicity.

A survey study evaluating donor gamete utilization rates, patient satisfaction, and fertility treatment outcomes according to desired race and ethnicity.

Publication , Conference

Mebane, S; Harris, BS; Woodward, J; Brucker, A; Erkanli, A; Nagle, C; Steele, D; Neal, S

Published in: Fertil Steril

November 2024

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate donor gamete utilization, patient satisfaction, and fertility treatment outcomes of patients pursuing treatment with donor gametes stratified by the desired race as well as ethnicity of the gamete donor. DESIGN: Survey study. SETTING: Clinic. PATIENT(S): Patients planning to undergo treatment using donor sperm and/or donor oocytes at a single academic fertility clinic in the Southeastern United States between 2015 and 2020. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Utilization rates of donor gametes, satisfaction with donor gamete selection, and fertility treatment outcomes stratified by race and ethnicity of patient, as well as that of their gamete donor. RESULT(S): Four hundred fifty patients were eligible for inclusion and 170 (38%) responded to the survey. Among the respondents, 59% desired a non-Hispanic White gamete donor and 20% desired a non-Hispanic Black gamete donor. Patients seeking a non-Hispanic Black gamete donor had lower odds of using donor gametes (Odds ratio [OR], 0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04-0.40) compared with individuals seeking a non-Hispanic White gamete donor. When evaluating satisfaction with donor gamete selection, patients seeking a non-Hispanic Black gamete donor reported lower satisfaction compared with individuals seeking a non-Hispanic White gamete donor (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.09-0.43). When evaluating fertility outcomes, Non-Hispanic Black patients and those using non-Hispaninc Black gamete donors were found to have lower odds of successful conception compared with non-Hispanic White patients (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.07-0.46) and individuals seeking non-Hispanic White gamete donors (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09-0.75), respectively. CONCLUSION(S): Patients seeking non-Hispanic Black donor gametes have lower utilization rates, less satisfaction with gamete donor selection, and lower odds of conception when compared with those seeking non-Hispanic White gamete donors. These findings highlight the need for more racial diversity within donor gamete banks, as well as within the donor pools available through agencies and fertility clinics.