For women with a diminished oocyte reserve, for example due to premature ovarian insufficiency, oocyte donation (OD) is their only possibility to conceive. However, OD is related to a higher...Show moreFor women with a diminished oocyte reserve, for example due to premature ovarian insufficiency, oocyte donation (OD) is their only possibility to conceive. However, OD is related to a higher incidence of pregnancy complications and psychosocial challenges. Preconception counselling (PC) helps women who might opt for OD by explaining the risks of a pregnancy, guiding them in their decision making and focussing on the psychosocial wellbeing. This thesis aims to explore the perspectives on PC of women who conceived through OD. Furthermore, using a quantitative questionnaire design, this thesis aims to investigate the differences on psychosocial constructs (quality of life (QoL), contentment, anxiety, and distress) between women who did and did not receive PC. The perspectives of these women were investigated by conducting qualitative focus-group research. To summarize the perspectives of these women, analyses of the focus groups were done by both deductive and inductive coding. The questionnaire was based upon the validated FertiQoL questionnaire (measures QoL in people with fertility problems) and the GAD-7 questionnaire (measures anxiety and distress). Analyses of the quantitative outcomes were done with an independent samples t-test or a Mann-Whitney U test. The sample included 87 women who did receive PC, and 24 women who did not receive PC before their OD treatment. Analyses of the focus groups indicated the need for more clarity on the process of OD (e.g., finding a donor, possible risks), possibly by the development of a guideline. Also, the participating women would have liked to receive more psychosocial support. Analyses of the questionnaire showed no significant differences between both groups on the psychosocial variables, except for one scale on contentment, U(NPC=no=21, NPC=yes= 80) = 599.50, z = -2.02, p = .043. Women who did receive PC were more content with the quality and availability of treatment. In conclusion, this research could be implemented into a national guideline, offering a helpful document on OD care for health care providers, and thereby improving OD care for these women and their partners.Show less
