Consulting gamete and embryo donors and surrogate mothers: problems and their solution ways in world practice

Today, reproductive donation is one of the successful methods to solve infertility problems and is frequently the only chance for many people to become parents. The assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures have not only medical aspects; a special role in them is played by both the mental state of all participants and their awareness about the social and legal consequences of ART. This paper analyzes the world practice of consulting reproductive donors. The authors consider how the need for advice given to donors is legislatively regulated or recommended in the documents of the responsible organizations, as well as how the goals and scope of consulting services are defined. Reproductive donor counseling varies from country to country and according to the reproductive material. But there are general trends. Most of the consultations with donors discuss their motives, the consequences of donation, both physical and psychological ones, future expectations, and legal issues, which is extremely important for signing their informed consents. Particular attention is paid to the consequences of donation for the current or future family of the donor, discussion of expectations and requirements for the exchange of information between all the parties concerned. Conclusion: Timely information, legal, and psychological consultations to donors are a guarantee of their conscious signing of informed consent form and can dismantle many problems before donation. The favorable prognostic factors for effective ART are a conscious decision to become a reproductive donor, a high level of motivation, a willingness to cooperate with a physician and a recipient, and the stable mental state supported by a psychologist throughout the entire process.

infertility, donation, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), donor counseling, reproductive donation