Functional neuroimaging of emotional processing in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To explore how recipients’ preferences for their donor’s characteristics change from before they enter the program to after their child’s delivery. DESIGN: A prospective comparison study. Surveys were given prior to entering the program and again three to four months after delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 34-item survey utilizing Likert scale questions was developed based on clinical and literature review for recipients’ preference for donor characteristics and the top 3 preferences were rank ordered. Descriptive statistics on 18 female and 12 male recipients were derived on all characteristics. 20 subjects had no children, 24 had college or higher degrees. RESULTS: After delivery specific donor characteristics such as eye color, hair color and general attractiveness trended towards being less important although generally was considered moderately important. Significant shifts towards less importance were: sexual orientation (P<.02), education (P<.0006), ethnic background (P<.0005), no mental health problems (P<.0005), education (P<.0006), general attractiveness, skin tone and hair color (P<.04), and donor already had a child (P<.05). More important were: donor’s health (P<.0001) and family health (P<.0004). Overall, good personal health, mental health and family health history remains most important both before entering the program and after delivery. Least important were religion, willingness to meet offspring, willingness to be in a registry, if donor had a child, graduate education, and a financial motivation. CONCLUSION: Recipients expressed preferences for their donors’ characteristics tend to remain stable over time although may be felt less strongly after actually delivering their child(ren). Although individual characteristics are moderately important to most recipients, health concerns for the donor remains the most important preference. This information may reduce pressure on recipients when selecting characteristics.