RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This exploratory survey aims to identify the obstacles to egg donation (ED), based on the donors' experience. Despite 30 years of practice and awareness-raising campaigns, ED in France suffers from a shortage of female donors due to a lack of knowledge of this donation (Agence de la biomédecine, 2017). METHOD: Qualitative study by semi-directive interviews conducted between January and August 2018 at the CHRU in Tours with 15 egg donors in the postoperative period. RESULTS: The donation generated a sense of pride and personal accomplishment among the donors, in contrast to the lack of recognition of their actions by professionals and their entourage. Physical commitment does not seem to be a barrier to donation. The organisational and logistical constraints were identified as one of the main obstacles, while 70% of the interviewees stressed the benevolence of the practitioners. Finally, the donation opened up questions for them on female fertility, maternity and the role of gender norms in gamete donation. CONCLUSION: The survey reveals the technical dimension of ED imposed by the biomedical system deplored by donors, and highlights the need to recognize their actions. Physical engagement is not a major obstacle, unlike organizational and relational aspects. This study opens up an important field of investigation, which should be explored in particular in the perspective of a French bioethical reform of ED.
