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Please cite this paper as: Sydsjö G, Lampic C, Brändström S, Gudmundsson J, Karlström P, Solensten N, Thurin-Kjellberg A, Skoog Svanberg A. Who becomes a sperm donor: personality characteristics in a national sample of identifiable donors. BJOG 2012;119:33-39. Objective To study the personality characteristics of identifiable sperm donors in a national sample in comparison with the same characteristics of a control group. Design Descriptive study. Setting All clinics ( n = 7) performing gamete donation in Sweden. Population All Swedish sperm donors recruited during 2005-08. An age-matched group of Swedish men served as controls. Methods Standardised questionnaires were used to measure personality. Main outcome measures Demographics and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Results The mean age of the donors was 33.8 ± 7.8 years (18-56 years). About one-third (36.5%) of the donors had biological children of their own. With regard to personality, significant differences were present on harm avoidance, with lower means for sperm donors ( P = 0.002, 95% CI −3.74 to −0.85), and on self-directedness and cooperativeness, with higher means for donors ( P = 0.002, 95% CI 0.97-4.19; P = 0.001; 95% CI 0.75-2.95, respectively), compared with controls. This indicates that the donors in general feel less worried and suffer less from uncertainty, shyness and fatigability than controls. They also perceive themselves as being autonomous, with a capacity to take responsibility, to behave in a goal-directed manner, to be resourceful and self-acceptant, and to behave in a manner guided by meaningful values and goals. Furthermore, they describe themselves as being well integrated in humanity or society, and having a good capacity for identification with and acceptance of other people. Conclusions The screening process at the clinics seems to generate a group of stable, mature and well-integrated donors, and this is a promising result for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: What characterizes the group of donor-conceived (DC) individuals who request information about their identity-release sperm donor in Sweden, and what are their experiences of disclosure, information receipt and donor contact?, Summary Answer: Following three decades of identity-release donation in Sweden, few DC individuals have requested donor information with varying experiences of information receipt and donor contact., What Is Known Already: In 1985, Sweden was the first country worldwide to enact legislation that gave DC individuals the right to obtain identifying information about their donor. Since then, identity-release gamete donation has become available in many countries but there is limited knowledge about the individuals who request donor information., Study Design, Size, Duration: A nation-wide cross-sectional survey study was performed at all seven University hospitals that provided donation treatment in Sweden during 1985-2002. During this period only donor insemination to heterosexual couples was permitted. Inclusion criteria were being 18 years of age or older, conceived with donor sperm and having requested information about the donor by December 2020. Recruitment was performed during 2016-2020., Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: A total of 60 individuals had requested information about their donor. Of these, 53 were approached and 40 individuals, representing 34 families, accepted study participation (75% response rate). Participants completed a postal survey with the WHO-10 well-being index and study-specific questions about experiences of disclosure, motivations for requesting donor information, receipt of information, as well as intentions and experiences of donor contact. Independent t-test and chi-square tests were used to compare ratings of participants with early and late disclosure., Main Results and Role of Chance: Of ∼900 DC individuals who had reached adult age, a total of 60 (≈7%) had requested information about the donor. Most of the 40 study participants (78%) made their requests within 2 years after reaching 18 years of age, or following disclosure at later ages (up to 32 years). Several participants had adult DC siblings in the family who had not requested any donor information. All except five participants received identifying information about the donor from the clinic. However, some donors had died or lacked contact information. Among those participants who were able to contact their donor, 41% had done so at the time of the study, while a third of the participants were unsure about potential contact. Several had met the donor in person and a few were in regular contact. About half of the participants had been informed about their donor conception in adolescence or adulthood (age 12-32), and there were significant differences between participants based on age at disclosure. Compared to those with early disclosure, participants with late disclosure were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with the timing of their disclosure (P = 0.021), to react with negative emotions (P < 0.001), and to subsequently contact the donor (P = 0.047)., Limitations, Reasons for Caution: The limited population available for inclusion resulted in a small sample size, despite a high response rate. In addition, men's lower participation rate must be taken into consideration when interpreting the results., Wider Implications of the Findings: The small number of individuals requesting information about their identity-release sperm donor is surprising. While not all DC individuals appear to be interested in donor information, it is reasonable to assume that some are unaware of their donor conception and thus unable to make informed decisions regarding their genetic origins. During the coming years, young women and men in many countries will become eligible to access identifying information about their donor. In order to meet the needs of these individuals, and to support positive outcomes for all involved parties, it is essential that adequate protocols and resources are developed., Study Funding/competing Interest: Financial support from The Swedish Research Council. There are no conflicts of interest to declare., Trial Registration Number: N/A., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.)

Objective: To explore oocyte and sperm donors' emotional stress, experiences of care and satisfaction after donation., Design: Prospective multicenter study., Settings: All fertility clinics performing gamete donation in Sweden during the period 2005 to 2008., Population: Of 220 eligible oocyte donors who were approached, 181 agreed to complete the first questionnaire and 165 completed the second questionnaire 2 months after oocyte donation. Of 156 eligible sperm donors 119 accepted to complete the first questionnaire before donation. Eighty-nine participants completed the second questionnaire 2 months after sperm donation., Methods: Standardized and study-specific questionnaires., Main Outcome Measures: Satisfaction with the donation, respondents' mental health and overall care., Results: A larger percentage of sperm donors (97.8%) were satisfied with their overall experience of being a donor than oocyte donors (85.9%, p = 0.003). Some oocyte and sperm donors did not receive sufficient information about practical issues (9.1% and 13.5%, respectively) and future consequences (12.8% and 3.4%, respectively, p = 0.014). The donors' symptoms of anxiety and depression did not show any differences in relation to negative or positive perceptions of satisfaction. The donors who did not indicate ambivalence before treatment were on average almost five times more satisfied compared with those who did indicate ambivalence (odds ratio 4.71; 95% CI 1.34-16.51)., Conclusions: Most donors were satisfied with their contribution after the donation. Oocyte and sperm donors who expressed ambivalence before donation were less satisfied after donation. In vitro fertilization staff fulfilled most of the donors' needs for information and care., (© 2013 The Authors. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objective: To study donors' motivation and ambivalence before donation of gametes., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Seven Swedish university hospital clinics. Sample. Of the 220 eligible oocyte donors and 156 eligible sperm donors who were approached, 181 (82%) oocyte donors and 119 (76%) sperm donors agreed to participate., Methods: Gamete donors completed a questionnaire in the clinic prior to the donation., Main Outcome Measures: Motives and ambivalence towards donation., Results: In general, gamete donors donated for altruistic reasons (95%). A greater percentage of oocyte than sperm donors had a personal experience of biological children, which motivated them to donate (65 vs. 32%). A greater percentage of sperm donors compared with oocyte donors were curious about their own fertility (24 vs. 9%), and they also believed that they were contributing what they regarded as their own good genes to other couples (45 vs. 20%). Prior to donation, potential sperm donors were more ambivalent towards donating than were oocyte donors (39 and 21%, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The motives to donate gametes are mainly altruistic. We conclude that men and women differ in their view towards donating gametes. Sperm donors had a higher degree of ambivalent feelings towards donation than oocyte donors., (© 2012 The Authors Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica© 2012 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objective: To study the personality characteristics of identifiable sperm donors in a national sample in comparison with the same characteristics of a control group., Design: Descriptive study., Setting: All clinics (n=7) performing gamete donation in Sweden., Population: All Swedish sperm donors recruited during 2005-08. An age-matched group of Swedish men served as controls., Methods: Standardised questionnaires were used to measure personality., Main Outcome Measures: Demographics and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI)., Results: The mean age of the donors was 33.8±7.8 years (18-56 years). About one-third (36.5%) of the donors had biological children of their own. With regard to personality, significant differences were present on harm avoidance, with lower means for sperm donors (P=0.002, 95% CI -3.74 to -0.85), and on self-directedness and cooperativeness, with higher means for donors (P=0.002, 95% CI 0.97-4.19; P=0.001; 95% CI 0.75-2.95, respectively), compared with controls. This indicates that the donors in general feel less worried and suffer less from uncertainty, shyness and fatigability than controls. They also perceive themselves as being autonomous, with a capacity to take responsibility, to behave in a goal-directed manner, to be resourceful and self-acceptant, and to behave in a manner guided by meaningful values and goals. Furthermore, they describe themselves as being well integrated in humanity or society, and having a good capacity for identification with and acceptance of other people., Conclusions: The screening process at the clinics seems to generate a group of stable, mature and well-integrated donors, and this is a promising result for the future., (© 2011 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2011 RCOG.)

Objective: To study the personality characteristics of identifiable oocyte donors in a national sample in comparison with normal values., Design: Descriptive study., Setting: All Swedish donation programmes., Sample: In total, 181 women out of 221 donors recruited during 2005-2008., Methods: Standardised questionnaires were used to measure personality characteristics., Main Outcome Measure: Demographics, temperament and character inventory (TCI)., Results: The majority (69%) of the donors had biological children of their own. The results from the TCI indicate that the oocyte donors were all within the normal range of character. With regard to personality, a significant difference was evident between the two groups: oocyte donors showed lower means for harm avoidance and higher scores for persistence than the controls. This indicates that the donors felt less worried, and displayed a lower level of fear of uncertainty, shyness and fatiguability, and a higher level of persistence, than the controls. In the present sample, 29 (16%) of the donors were so-called 'known donors', that is the recipient couples and the donors were known to each other. 'Known donors' displayed a mature and stable character., Conclusion: We found that the women who had been accepted for inclusion in this nationwide oocyte donor programme were all well adjusted and mature., (© 2011 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2011 RCOG.)

BACKGROUND Two decades after the introduction of Swedish legislation that allows children born as a result of gamete donation access to identifying information about the donor, a nationwide multicentre study on the psychosocial consequences of this legislation for recipients and donors of gametes was initiated in 2005. The aim of the present study was to investigate recipient couples' attitudes and behaviour regarding disclosure to offspring and others, attitudes towards genetic parenthood and perceptions of information regarding parenthood after donation. METHODS The present study is part of the prospective longitudinal 'Swedish study on gamete donation', including all fertility clinics performing donation treatment in Sweden. A consecutive cohort of 152 heterosexual recipient couples of donated oocytes (72% response) and 127 heterosexual recipient couples of donated sperm (81% response) accepted participation in the study. In connection with the donation treatment, male and female participants individually completed two questionnaires with study-specific instruments concerning disclosure, genetic parenthood and informational aspects. RESULTS About 90% of participants (in couples receiving anonymous donated gametes) supported disclosure and openness to the offspring concerning his/her genetic origin. Only 6% of all participants had not told other people about their donation treatment. Between 26 and 40% of participants wanted additional information/support about parenthood following donation treatment. CONCLUSIONS Two decades after the Swedish legislation of identifiable gamete donors, recipient couples of anonymously donated sperm and oocytes are relatively open about their treatment and support disclosure to offspring. Recipient couples may benefit from more information and support regarding parenthood after gamete donation. Further studies are required to follow-up on the future parents' actual disclosure behaviour directed to offspring.

Objective: To evaluate the morphologic characteristics underlying the ultrasonographic appearance and blood flow dynamics in the human corpus luteum (CL) of the menstrual cycle., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden., Patient(s): Twenty-six otherwise healthy women with proven fertility and a history of regular menstrual cycles, scheduled for elective hysterectomy or tubal sterilization., Intervention(s): An ovulatory LH rise in urine was established and the CL age was determined according to the day after the LH rise. Before surgery, a standardized ultrasonographic examination of the CL, including B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography measurements, was performed. Upon commencing the minilaparotomy, the CL was excised and measured using a digital slide-caliper. The volume density (percentage of CL volume occupied by blood vessels) of factor VIII-related antigen immunostained endothelial cells was determined., Main Outcome Measure(s): Pulsatility index obtained from intraovarian blood vessels supplying the CL and volume density of blood vessels in CL tissue. The CL maximal and minimal outer and inner dimensions were measured in vivo by ultrasonography and ex vivo by a digital slide caliper., Result(s): A statistically significant decrease of blood vessel density and an increased resistance to blood flow, as indicated by pulsatility index, was established during the course of corpus luteum development. An inverse correlation between pulsatility index and volume density of blood vessels was found. A high degree of agreement between ultrasonographic and anatomic measurements of surgically removed CL was found., Conclusion(s): Transvaginal ultrasonography in combination with intraovarian color Doppler flow measurements is a simple and reliable method to evaluate the size and vascularization of the human CL.