Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36943574›Full record

ArticleJournal of assisted reproduction and genetics2023

Should patients pay for sperm given for free? Results from a pilot study on fertility clinics' views on the charging for altruistically donated sperm.

Emma Rowlinson, Sarah Martins Da Silva, Nkoyenum Pamela Olisa, Lisa Campo-Engelstein

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 38% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Emma RowlinsonThe University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX, 77550, USA. egrowlin@utmb.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4545-0385
Sarah Martins Da SilvaUniversity of Dundee Reproductive Medicine, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2579-4866
Nkoyenum Pamela OlisaUniversity of Dundee Reproductive Medicine, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.
Lisa Campo-EngelsteinThe University of Texas Medical Branch Institute for Bioethics & Health Humanities, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX, 77550, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1800-9110
University of Dundee · GBJohn Sealy Hospital · USThe University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMany countries prohibit payment for gamete donation, which means fertility clinics do not have to compensate donors. However, acquiring and utilizing donor sperm can still be expensive for fertility clinics. This study evaluates international fertility workers' views on charging patients for altruistically donated sperm.

methodsUsing social media and email, we disseminated a SurveyMonkey survey with a question that was specifically focused on opinions about charging patients for altruistically donated sperm. Clinicians were able to select multiple pre-populated answer choices as well as write answers that reflected their views as an open-ended response. Snowball sampling was utilized to reach international fertility clinicians.

resultsOf 112 respondents from 14 countries, 88% believe it is acceptable to charge for altruistically donated sperm based on one or more of four different assenting categories: so patients appreciate that sperm is valuable, because it generates funds for the running of the clinic, to cover specific costs associated with sperm, and to make a profit for the clinic.

conclusionsThe consensus that charging for altruistically donated sperm is acceptable was not surprising since recruiting and processing donor sperm can be expensive for clinics. However, there were geographical differences for specific assenting answer choices which may be based on countries' income, and healthcare system, as well as religious and cultural beliefs.

Indexed as

Fertility ClinicsSemenHumansMalePilot ProjectsSpermatozoaTissue DonorsAltruismClinician perspectivesInternationalProfitSperm donation

Identifiers

PMID36943574
PMCPMC10239429
OpenAlexW4328047951

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.