Genetics and filiation: a clinical case of intrafamilial donation

Abstract

Study question: Can a couple that has a reproductive difficulty accept a gamete donated by a family member? How does the psychologist evaluate these situations? Summary answer: Yes, intra-family donation can be used after an exhaustive evaluation carried out by the treating team. What is already known: Resorting to the donation of gametes implies going through a genetic duel. However, many people need to know something about the genetics of the gamete they are going to receive. Study design: Clinical case Materials and Methods: Individual semi-directed interviews with each member of the recipient couple and with the intra-family donor, bonding semi-directed interview (recipients-donor), Bender Test, HTP (House, Tree, Person), Current kinetic family and kinetic family prospective, Clinical Symptom Inventory SCL-90-R. Description of the clinical case: Heterosexual couple (42-year-old woman and 44-year-old man) who require egg donation due to low ovarian reserve. The woman already has two children from her previous marriage, the man has no children yet. The possible donor is the recipient’s niece (25 years old), who already has two children. Limitations of the study: Being a description of a clinical case, it cannot be generalized about the course of the results of this study and may be not applicable to all cases of intrafamilial donation. Implication of the findings: When you have to conceive a child appealing to gamete donation, the most common thing is to participate of the ovodonation program, but on some occasion, there are couples who decide to opt for someone from their environment. This possibility opens a debate, because although it is possible from the medical field, from the psychological point of view it questions us regarding the links that will be generated between the actors involved, especially thinking about the unborn child.