How sperm and egg donation is changing - Can you help with research?

Stephen Whyte a social sciences researcher from Australia recently asked for people to help him with his study, by completing an online survey. Stephen would like to thank everyone who contributed from Pride Angel. He is delighted to have received approximately 70% of the amount of completed surveys needed to go ahead with the study. But he still needs more people to complete his work. Whether you are looking for a donor, you are a donor or considering donating - your views are valued." Reproductive Medicine has evolved rapidly over the past four decades since the first IVF child was born in the late 1970’s. Unfortunately social research into the field of donor insemination & IVF has not moved as quickly. Over the previous decade the internet has enabled and facilitated a new forum for potential parents to pursue the gift of life. A developing market for people seeking more than is currently on offer from private sperm banks, public health systems, policy makers and governments. More about Stephen..... My name is Stephen Whyte and I am a social sciences researcher from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane (QUT), Australia. I’m conducting research into the changing market for Donors and women seeking donors for DI, IUI, ICSI and IVF treatment. As a father of three beautiful sons myself, I am lucky enough to already know “why” people are seeking the amazing gift of parenthood. What my study is seeking to establish is the driving factors behind the potential parents and donors seeking to step away from the current public and private sector options for donor insemination treatment. My research aims to better understand the participants in this new market place (Website Forums for Donation), so that fiscal policy and legislation can affect more socially beneficial outcomes. Government policy is often based on stringent un-biased academic research such as the type I am attempting to conduct. I am seeking to better understand the donors and potential parents involved in websites such as Pride Angel. To do this I first need to have an understanding of the people involved and what has brought them to participate in such online forums. I have created a short survey that takes approximately five - ten minutes for donors and ten – fifteen minutes for people seeking donors to fill in. The survey does not ask you to personally identify yourself, it is completely anonymous. We do not wish to identify you now or in the future. What we do want is a general demographic outline of you, so as to form a better idea of what has brought you to this forum. Understanding how you have got to this point, the factors that drive you and what is influencing your selection is the essence of this research. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. I would ask and hope that you follow the links below, fill in our survey and help us in our research endeavour. Thank you and good luck in your pursuit of the amazing gift of life. If you are a donor please fill in the survey at this link: www.survey.qut.edu.au If you are looking for a donor please fill in the survey at this link: www.survey.qut.edu.au Article: 8th January 2013 by Stephen Whyte - Social sciences researcher from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane (QUT), Australia Looking for a sperm or egg donor, or want to help others by donating, visit www.prideangel.com