Challenges of Egg, Sperm, and Embryo Donation from the Perspective of Iranian Experts: A Qualitative Study

TL;DR

This study explores the challenges of egg, sperm, and embryo donation in Iran from the perspective of fertility experts and suggests solutions.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the legal and medical challenges of donation in assisted reproductive technologies in Iran.

Findings

Sperm donation faces the most legal and medical challenges compared to egg and embryo donation.

Experts recommend designing a comprehensive national protocol to address these challenges.

Eight categories of challenges and four solution categories were identified through content analysis.

Abstract

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have been implemented in Iran for nearly thirty years. However, except for embryo donation, none of the other cases, including embryo and sperm donation have not yet been legalized through parliamentary resolutions. This study aims to explore the challenges of these three types of donations from the perspective of fertility experts.

This qualitative exploratory research was conducted in Tehran in 2024. Participants consisted of 12 specialists with experience in infertility treatment or other fields related to embryo, sperm and egg donation, who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via focus group discussions and analyzed based on conventional content analysis using MAXQDA 20.

Data were classified into 12 categories. Eight categories describe the challenges and problems of egg, sperm, and embryo donation and 4 categories describe the solutions recommended by experts.

According to the study findings, sperm donation faces the most legal and medical challenges compared to egg and embryo donation. Designing a comprehensive national protocol could be the best solution proposed to Iranian health policymakers. Conducting more qualitative and mixed methods studies related to sperm, egg, and embryo donation could confirm and strengthen the findings of this study.