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Project

Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study

The proposed project is an interdisciplinary study of the social, political, economic and moral configuration of egg donation for fertility treatment in the UK, Belgium and Spain. Donated eggs are now used in over 25,000 IVF treatment cycles in Europe, creating over 7000 babies per year [1 ], yet little is known about the motivation, decision-making and experiences of egg providers1, the views of clinicians or the role of newly emerging intermediaries in the growing transnational market in human reproduction. Drawing on three European cases, the goals of this innovative study are to: generate an enhanced, more holistic understanding of egg donation as a social practice; to contribute to theory on the emergence of new reproductive subjectivities in neo-liberal governmentalities and the (gendered) socio-technical and moral processes in which they are embedded; and to provide insights to inform policy-making and practice. We will develop a novel epistemological lens through which to interrogate this complex social phenomenon, using insights from sociology, bioethics and political economy: three fields at the cutting edge of research on the social implications of contemporary developments in reproductive technology. The study will advance interdisciplinary research methods through the development of an original model for ensuring trustworthiness in comparative, qualitative research and will generate societal impact via collaboration with stakeholders to produce guidance for policy makers and professionals in the recruitment, support and care of egg providers.

Date:1 Apr 2017 →  31 Dec 2020
Keywords:interdisciplinary study, egg donation
Disciplines:Nursing, Endocrinology and metabolic diseases, Gynaecology and obstetrics