Privacy and disclosure in infertility treatment

Infertility can be an extremely psychologically stressful experience. Seeking social support, through disclosure and discussion of the infertility to friends and family can be helpful to many infertile couples. When a couple is undergoing the assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) including third-party reproduction, disclosure can have both a positive and negative impact on the couple. Disclosure about the use of donor sperm, donor egg, or a gestational carrier may lead to disapproval from others and/or reveal information a couple would prefer to keep private. Alternatively, disclosure can provide the couple with important social support and understanding from others. This article reviews the issues of privacy and disclosure, specifically focusing on a case illustration of a couple deciding whether to disclose their use of anonymous sperm donation. The role of the mental health professional as a facilitator in this process is emphasized.