scholarly journals Finding people like me: contact among young adults who share an open-identity sperm donor

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Scheib ◽  
E McCormick ◽  
J Benward ◽  
A Ruby
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Single Mother ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Sperm Donation ◽  
Sperm Donor ◽  
Sperm Donors ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Almost All

Abstract STUDY QUESTION What interests and experiences do donor-conceived adults have with respect to same-donor peers/siblings, when they share an open-identity sperm donor? SUMMARY ANSWER Donor-conceived young adults report considerable interest in, and primarily positive experiences with, their same-donor peers, with some finding ‘people like me’. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Through mutual-consent contact registries, director-to-consumer DNA testing and other means, donor-conceived people with anonymous (i.e. closed-identity) sperm donors are gaining identity- information from, and establishing relationships with, people who share their donor. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Semi-structured, in depth telephone and Skype interviews with 47 donor-conceived young adults were carried out over a 31-month period. Inclusion criteria were being one of the first adults for each donor to obtain their identity and being at least 1-year post donor-information release. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Participants (aged 19–29 years, 68.1% women) were born to female same-sex couple parents (46.8%), a single mother (29.8%) or heterosexual couple parents (23.4%); all parents had conceived through the same US open-identity sperm donation program. The dataset was analyzed thematically and included interviews from only one participant per family. Each participant had a different donor. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Interest in, and experiences with, same-donor peers suggested that they occupy a unique position in the lives of donor-conceived young adults who share their open-identity donor. Contact can provide identity-relevant information and support through the availability of relationships (whether actualized or potential), shared experiences, and easier relationships than with their donor. Most donor-conceived young adults felt positively about their contact experiences. Of those not yet linked, almost all expressed an interest to do so. Some had met the children raised by their donor. When asked, all expressed an interest in doing so. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Interviews were conducted with donor-conceived young adults who were uncommon in their generation in terms of: having an open-identity sperm donor; the majority knowing about their family’s origins from childhood; and having parents that accessed at the time one of the only open-identity sperm donation programs. Further research is needed to assess applicability to all donor-conceived adults; findings may be more relevant to the growing number of people who have an open-identity donor and learned in childhood about their family’s origins. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Participants were among the first generation of donor-conceived adults with an open-identity sperm donor. Their experiences and perspectives can provide essential guidance to programs and others with similar origins. Early disclosure of family origins and identifying the donor did not diminish the young adults’ interest in their same-donor peers. Positive experiences suggest that the benefits of contact include not only identity-relevant information (through shared traits and experiences), but also relationships with and support from people who understand the uncommon experience of being donor conceived. Implications include the need to educate families and intended parents about the potential benefits of knowing others who are donor conceived, and the risk of unexpected linking across families by donors, regardless of donor-conceived person or family interest. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study was funded by the Lesbian Health Fund of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Attitudes and motives of potential sperm donors in Serbia

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andjelka Hedrih ◽  
Vladimir Hedrih
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Sperm Donation ◽  
Sperm Donor ◽  
Big Five Inventory ◽  
Sperm Donors ◽  
Donation Process

Background/Aim. For curing infertility, sperm donors and their donations are important source of benefits for the society. Attitudes of sperm donors towards different recipient categories and relation with offspring become more important. The aim of our study was to explore sperm donation related attitudes and motives among potential sperm donors in Serbia. Methods. The study included 303 participants from Serbia, age from 20 to 40. Measures of personality traits were obtained by using the Big Five Inventory. For measuring attitudes and motivation regarding sperm donation the Attitudes and Motivation of Sperm Donors questionnaire was applied. Results. A total of 244 participants stated that they would be willing to be sperm donors. The results showed no statistically significant differences in personality traits between people who claimed that they would be willing to become sperm donors, and those claiming otherwise, but a number of differences in personality traits were found when various attitudes regarding sperm donation process, possible users of donated sperm and relations between the donor and his biological offspring were considered. Conclusion. There are no statistically significant differences in personality traits between people who claimed that they would and those that would not be willing to become sperm donors. It is possible that some other factors (e.g. cultural values) influence the decision to become sperm donor, but personality traits play an important role in making decisions regarding sperm donation process, possible receivers of donation and relations between the donor and his biological offspring.

The ethical case for non-directed postmortem sperm donation

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 489-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Hodson ◽  
Joshua Parker
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Sperm Donation ◽  
Sperm Donor ◽  
Donor Sperm ◽  
Sperm Donors ◽  
Present Context ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Donor Characteristics

In this article we outline and defend the concept of voluntary non-directed postmortem sperm donation. This approach offers a potential means of increasing the quantity and heterogeneity of donor sperm. This is pertinent given the present context of a donor sperm shortage in the UK. Beyond making the case that it is technically feasible for dead men to donate their sperm for use in reproduction, we argue that this is ethically permissible. The inability to access donor sperm and the suffering this causes, we argue, justifies allowing access to sperm donated after death. Moreover, it is known that individuals and couples have desires for certain sperm donor characteristics which may not be fulfilled when numbers of sperm donors are low. Enacting these preferences contributes significantly to the well-being of intended parents, so we argue that this provides a pro tanto reason for respecting them. Finally, we explore the benefits and possible disadvantages of such a system for the various parties affected.

scholarly journals A comparison of the characteristics, motivations, preferences and expectations of men donating sperm online or through a sperm bank

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 2208-2218
Author(s):  
S Graham ◽  
T Freeman ◽  
V Jadva
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Sperm Donation ◽  
Screening Criteria ◽  
Sperm Donors ◽  
Sperm Bank ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Competing Interest

Abstract STUDY QUESTION How do the demographic characteristics, motivations, experiences and expectations of unregulated sperm donors (men donating sperm online through a connection website) compare to sperm donors in the regulated sector (men donating through a registered UK sperm bank)? SUMMARY ANSWER Online donors were more likely to be older, married and have children of their own than sperm bank donors, were more varied in their preferences and expectations of sperm donation, and had more concerns about being a sperm donor. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY While studies have examined motivations and experiences of both regulated sperm bank, and unregulated online sperm donors, no study has directly compared these two groups of donors. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION An email was sent to the 576 men who were registered sperm donors at the London Sperm Bank, the UK’s largest sperm bank regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), who had commenced donation between January 2010 and December 2016, and had consented to be contacted for research. The online survey, which contained multiple choice and open-ended questions, was completed by 168 men over a 7-week period. The responses were compared to those of sperm donors registered on Pride Angel, a large UK-based connection website for donors and recipients of sperm: our research team had already collected these data. In total, 5299 sperm donors were on Pride Angel at time of data capture and 400 men had completed a similar survey. The responses of 70 actual online sperm donors (i.e. those whose sperm had been used to conceive at least one child) were used for comparison with the sperm bank donors. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The survey obtained data on the sperm donors’ demographic characteristics, motivations, experiences and expectations of sperm donation. Data from sperm bank donors were compared to online donors to examine differences between the two groups. The study compared online and clinic donors who had all been accepted as sperm donors: online donors who had been ‘vetted’ by recipients and sperm bank donors who had passed the rigorous screening criteria set by the clinic. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE A response rate of 29% was obtained from the sperm bank donors. Online donors were significantly older than sperm bank donors (mean ± SD: 38.7 ± 8.4 versus 32.9 ± 6.8 years, respectively) and were more likely to have their own children (p < 0.001 for both characteristics). Both groups rated the motivation ‘I want to help others’ as very important. Online donors rated ‘I don’t want to have children myself’, ‘to have children/procreate’ and ‘to enable others to enjoy parenting as I have myself’ as more important than sperm bank donors, whereas sperm bank donors rated financial payment as more important than online donors, as well as confirmation of own fertility. Most (93.9%) online donors had donated their sperm elsewhere, through other connection sites, fertility clinics, sperm banks or friends and family, compared to only 2.4% of sperm bank donors (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in how donors viewed their relationship to the child, with online donors much less likely than sperm bank donors to see their relationship as a ‘genetic relationship only’. Online donors had more concerns about being a donor (p < 0.001), for example, being concerned about ‘legal uncertainty and child financial support’ and ‘future contact and uncertainty about relationship with donor-conceived child’. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Findings may not be representative of all sperm donors as only one online connection site and one HFEA registered sperm bank were used for recruitment. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Despite concern regarding shortages of sperm donors in licensed clinics and unease regarding the growing popularity of unregulated connection websites, this is the first study to directly compare online and sperm bank donors. It highlights the importance of considering ways to incorporate unregulated online sperm donors into the regulated sector. With many online donors well aware of the legal risks they undertake when donating in the unregulated online market, this would both increase the number of sperm donors available at clinics but also provide legal protection and support for donors. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was supported by the Wellcome Trust Grants 104 385/Z/14/Z and 097857/Z/11/Z. The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Family Type Predicts Mental Health Problems in Young Adults: A Survey of Students at a University in Botswana

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kennedy Amone-P'Olak ◽  
Boniface Kealeboga Ramotuana
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Single Mother ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Family Type ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Intact Family ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Family Types

In Africa, the structure of the family is changing rapidly. The effects of this change on mental health remain unknown. This study investigated the extent to which different family types (intact, single-mother, and multiple) predict mental health problems in young adults in Botswana (N = 264, mean age = 21.31, SD = 2.40). In a cross-sectional design, the study sampled students registered at various faculties at the University of Botswana. The revised symptoms checklist (SCL-90-R) was used to assess symptoms of mental health problems (depression, anxiety and hostility). Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals (CIs) of mental health problems for mother-only and multiple family types relative to the intact family type. Compared to the intact family type, single-mother (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.21, 4.51) and multiple family types (OR = 1.56; CI: 0.88, 2.78) were associated with an increased risk of depression. For anxiety, the ORs were 2.27 (CI: 1.18, 4.38) and 1.10 (CI: 0.56, 1.82) for single-mother and multiple family types respectively. For hostility, the ORs were 2.60 (CI: 1.34, 5.04), and 0.79 (CI: 0.44, 1.42) for single-mother and multiple family types, respectively. Family types predict mental health problems in young adults and therefore the interventions to mitigate the effects should consider family backgrounds and the ramifications of family types for treatment and care.

Diminishing Reality: Potential Benefits and Risks

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-168
Author(s):  
I. Murph ◽  
M. McDonald ◽  
K. Richardson ◽  
M. Wilkinson ◽  
S. Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Primary Task ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Cognitive Aids ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Completion Times

Within distracting environments, it is difficult to maintain attentional focus on complex tasks. Cognitive aids can support attention by adding relevant information to the environment, such as via augmented reality (AR). However, there may be a benefit in removing elements from the environment, such as irrelevant alarms, displays, and conversations. De-emphasis of distracting elements is a type of AR called Diminished Reality (DR). Although de-emphasizing distraction may help focus on a primary task, it may also reduce situational awareness (SA) of other activities that may become relevant. In the current study, participants will assemble a medical ventilator during a simulated emergency while experiencing varying levels of DR. Participants will also be probed to assess secondary SA. We anticipate that participants will have better accuracy and completion times in the full DR conditions but their SA will suffer. Future applications include the design of future DR systems and improved training methods.

Sperm donor lifestyle survey: modifiable risk factors for potential sperm donors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuan Huang ◽  
Qian Liu ◽  
Zhong-Wei Wang ◽  
Wen-Jun Zhou ◽  
Zeng-Hui Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factors ◽  
Sperm Donor ◽  
Sperm Donors

scholarly journals Comparison of electrical collection topologies for multi-rotor wind turbines

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1237-1252
Author(s):  
Paul Pirrie ◽  
David Campos-Gaona ◽  
Olimpo Anaya-Lara
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Capital Cost ◽  
Lower Efficiency ◽  
Energy Capture ◽  
Electrical Systems ◽  
Component Type ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Comparison Table ◽  
Almost All

Abstract. Multi-rotor wind turbines (MRWTs) have been suggested in the literature as a solution to achieving wind turbine systems with capacities greater than 10 MW. MRWTs utilize a large number of small rotors connected to one support structure instead of one large rotor with the aim of circumventing the square cube law. Potential benefits of MRWTs include cost and material savings, standardization of parts, increased control possibilities, and improved logistics for assembly and maintenance. Almost all previous work has focused on mechanical and aerodynamic feasibility, with almost no attention being paid to the electrical systems. In this research eight different topologies of the electrical collection network for MRWTs are analysed to assess which are the most economically and practically viable options. AC and DC collection networks are presented in radial, star, cluster and DC series topologies. Mass, capital cost and losses are estimated based on scaling relationships from the academic literature and up-to-date commercial data. The focus of this study is the assessment of the type of electrical collector topology, so component type and voltage level are kept consistent between topology designs in order to facilitate a fair comparison. Topologies are compared in terms of four main criteria: capital cost, cost effectiveness, total mass and reliability. A comparison table is presented to summarize the findings of the research in a convenient way. It is found that the most cost-effective solutions are the AC radial and AC star topologies, with the least cost-effective being the DC series–parallel and DC cluster topologies. This is due to the high cost of DC–DC converters and DC switchgear along with the lower efficiency of DC converters. Radial designs perform best in terms of efficiency and annual energy capture. DC systems achieve a slightly lower nacelle mass compared to their equivalent AC systems. DC topologies are generally found to be more expensive when compared to their AC counterparts due to the high cost of DC–DC converters and DC switchgear. Star topologies are considered to have the best reliability due to having no shared equipment. The most suitable collection topology for MRWTs is shown to be of the star type, in which each turbine is connected to the step-up transformer via its own cable.

scholarly journals Sperm donation and surrogacy from a male perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s848-s848
Author(s):  
N. Carolino ◽  
A. Galhardo ◽  
M. Moura-Ramos ◽  
M. Cunha ◽  
B. Monteiro
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equity ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Gamete Donation ◽  
Sperm Donation ◽  
Major Focus ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Information Availability ◽  
Societal Changes ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionSocietal changes in the last decades led to the arise of new paradigms on gender equity. Studies addressing fertility/infertility issues have been conducted mainly in women and in this research area, male partners have deserved less attention. More recently there has been a major focus on the idea that fertility/infertility aspects have to be conceptualized from a couples’ perspective.GoalsThe current study sought to explore attitudes towards gamete donation and surrogacy in a sample of young men in reproductive age.MethodsA total of 111 males with ages ranging from 18 to 40 years old and without children completed an online questionnaire addressing attitudes towards gamete donation and surrogacy.ResultsThe majority of participants (77.3%) would be willing to donate their sperm, and their main motivation for doing that would be to feel “happy to help a couple struggling to have a child”. Participants stated that the likelihood of donating would increase if they were able to attend counseling, to complete the procedure in an IVF center located in their residence area, and being provided with more information about infertility. Regarding surrogacy 82% are in favor of this procedure legalization and 49.5% would be willing to use it if they needed.ConclusionMen showed a positive attitude towards sperm donation and surrogacy, emphasizing the importance of counseling and information availability on these topics. This may suggest that they are willing to get involved when fertility issues are addressed.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Abstract 14276: A Pediatric Cardiology Handbook for the Digital Age

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis Rochelson ◽  
Bradley C Clark ◽  
Kara Motonaga
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Cardiology ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Total N ◽  
Yield Information ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Almost All

Background: Pediatric cardiology (PC) fellows, tasked with studying a large and dynamic field, may benefit from a quick-access digital resource that reflects contemporary practice. Objective: To design a PC Handbook smartphone app and evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing the accessibility of information such as guidelines and treatment recommendations for PC fellows. Methods: The PC handbook app was designed for iPhone using XCode and Swift programming. A pre-app electronic survey and instructions for download were sent to U.S. PC fellows followed by a post-app survey within 3 months of use. Fellows were asked to rate the ease of rapid access to various types of information, such as guidelines and normal values, with responses given on a 4-point scale (1 = very difficult, 4 = very easy). Responses were compared pre- and post-app using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Two-hundred and thirty PC fellows were contacted; 23% (total n = 53) completed both the pre-app and post-app surveys and were included for analysis. Over half (57%) of fellows used the PC handbook app 1-3 times per month while 17% used it at least 1-3 times per week. After using the app, fellows found it easier to quickly access information in 8 out of 9 domains evaluated (Fig 1). All fellows found the app easy to use (100%), most felt that the app is well-organized (98%), contains reliable information (92%), and is useful for finding quick answers to clinical questions (87%). Almost all (91%) would recommend the app to a colleague. Conclusions: The Peds Cardiology Handbook iPhone app is a useful, reliable tool that provides quick access to high yield information, including various guidelines and references, in one location. Overall, PC fellows found it easier to rapidly access clinically relevant information after using the app, though future studies may be necessary to evaluate long-term use and impact on evidenced-based practice.

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