Attitude of Belgian women towards enucleated egg donation for treatment of mitochondrial diseases and infertility

Research question

What is the attitude of Belgian women of reproductive age towards enucleated egg donation? Does the willingness of women to donate differ when they would donate enucleated or whole eggs?

Design

In 2022, an online survey was conducted among a representative sample of 1000 women in Belgium aged 18–50 years. The item on willingness to anonymously donate enucleated eggs was dichotomized into those willing to donate and those not willing to donate or uncertain.

Results

No statistically significant difference was found between the willingness to donate enucleated eggs and whole eggs (whether anonymously or identifiably). Anonymity, however, affected the willingness to donate, with considerably fewer women willing to donate identifiably. The respondents were divided about their parental status if they were to donate enucleated eggs, with less than one-half (44%) not considering themselves to be a genetic mother. Women willing to donate enucleated eggs anonymously were less likely to view themselves as a genetic mother of the child compared with others. Fewer than one in five considered the technique unacceptable because the resulting child would carry genetic material of three persons.

Conclusions

Women in the general population did not show a greater willingness to donate enucleated eggs than whole eggs. The fact that the respondents were strongly divided on whether or not they would consider themselves to be a genetic mother of the resulting child may explain this result. Other factors, such as the potential high risk for the child, may also have contributed to less willingness.