Does increasing ovum donor compensation lead to differences in donor characteristics?

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a compensation increase for anonymous ovum donors on demographic and social characteristics. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: The Mount Sinai Medical Center Ovum Donation Program. Patient(s): All program applicants for 2 years preceding (group I, n = 2,934) and 1 year following an increase in donor compensation (group II, n=1,114; total N=4,048). Intervention(s): Compensation was increased from $2,500 to $5,000 per cycle. Main Outcome Measure(s): Demographic and social characteristics of applicants and donors. Result(s): More group II applicants (65.7%) than group I applicants (49.2%) returned an initial biographical questionnaire. Compensation level did not affect the percentage rejected at any stage in the application process or ultimately selected. There were no differences in donors in age, marital status, education, race, religion, or psychological profile. Group II donors had more previous pregnancies (group II mean=1.2, group I mean=0.6) and previous abortions (group II mean=0.8, group I mean=0.4). Conclusion(s): Increasing compensation may result in a higher percentage of potential donors completing an initial questionnaire but does not alter the demographic and social characteristics of selected donors. Adherence to a rigorous applicant screening ensures that donor characteristics remain independent from compensation.