Exploring Infertile Couples’ Decisions to Disclose Donor Conception to The Future Child

Despite significant advances in reproductive technology, using donor assisted reproductive technologyis a double-edged sword that has numerous challenges. One of the most challenging issues for couples is whether ornot to disclose this information to donor offspring. This study, therefore, explored infertile couples’ decision to disclosedonor conception to their future child. This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis approach in 2012 in the MiladInfertility Centre, Mashhad, Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 32 infertile personsincluding nine couples and 14 women who were selected by purposive sampling. Data were analysed by conventionalqualitative content analysis adopted by Graneheim and Lundman using MAXQDA 2010 software. Two categories were emerged: ‘not to disclose information to the child’ and ‘to disclose information tothe child’. The first category consisted of three subcategories: 1. child support from probable harms; 2.to maintainhealthy family relationships; and 3. lack of a compelling reason to disclose this information. The second categoryembraced four subcategories: 1. awareness of the others; 2. emergence of new living conditions; 3. appreciation forthe donor; and 4. honesty among family members. The main reason for not disclosing information was to protect thechild from probable harm. Although protecting children from possible harms was a major reason for infertile couples' secrecy,keeping this secret would not be always easy. Therefore, increasing public awareness about the donation process inorder to change the beliefs of community and eliminate the infertile couples’ concerns would help them to overcomethis problem. Additionally, long-term psychological counselling during and after the donation process is highly recommended.