Psychiatric Symptoms Associated with Oocyte-Donation

Oocyte-donation is generally safe but may exacerbate psychiatric symptoms in some women. In this prospective study 63 oocyte-donating women and, as a control group, 63 women providing their own oocytes for in vitro fertilization (in couples with male infertility) were evaluated pre- and post-ovulation-induction in regard to hypochondriasis, anxiety, social impairment, and depression. The mean hypochondriasis score for oocyte-donators was significantly lower than for women providing their own oocytes, prior to ovulation-induction (5.03 vs. 6.59). However, after ovulation-induction and oocyte retrieval this score rose to 6.66 among oocyte-donators, whereas it remained essentially unchanged among women providing their own oocytes (6.66). The mean anxiety score for oocyte-donating women also rose following this procedure, from 5.87 to 7.65. Depression scores for both groups remained similar, before and after the procedure. Results showed that at the beginning of the ARP donating women have the same conditions as own oocyte women regarding depression and anxiety but after the egg harvesting they would suffer more damages regarding hypochondriasis and anxiety aspects.