Background: Research involving human embryos promises exciting therapeutic advances but raises ethical and moral dilemmas for scientists and potential donors. The aim of this study is to report the proportion of couples donating supernumerary fresh embryos for development of stem cell lines from a single centre and the characteristics of those who donate.
Methods: Couples undergoing assisted conception treatment in a teaching hospital received research information between January 2005 and July 2006. Counselling and consenting was performed by a dedicated research nurse. Demographic data was collected for couples who enrolled in the study.
Main outcome measures: To determine the proportion of couples willing to donate surplus embryos for stem cell derivation and to examine the characteristics of those who consent to donate.
Results: Of 508 couples, 353 (69%) expressed an interest in research on their treatment consent forms. Sixty-six percent of those interested in research and 87% of counselled couples consented to donation. The demographic characteristics of those who agreed to donate were similar to those of all couples attending the unit.
Conclusions: Approximately half of couples consented to donate under the described system in our centre. Detailed information provision helps the majority of those counselled to proceed to donation.