Egg provision and information practices : a feminist empirical bioethics study on informed consent, egg provider experiences, and online information-sharing

This dissertation investigates how information about egg provision (EP) is framed, communicated, and experienced, and what implications this has for ethical practice. Combining feminist empirical bioethics with multiple qualitative methods, it examines both institutional and experiential perspectives to identify what constitutes essential information for prospective egg providers. The study consists of three main empirical components, each addressing a different facet of information provision and sharing. The first part focuses on online information aimed at potential egg providers. Two chapters discuss the analysis of websites of fertility clinics in Belgium, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The first examined how these websites frame EP and the motivations they evoke, showing how national and cultural contexts shape the altruistic narratives surrounding EP. The second analysed how medical risks and incentives are represented, revealing tendencies to downplay potential harms while emphasising reassurance and reward. Together, these studies provide insight into how clinics communicate with prospective providers and how such communication may influence decision-making. The second part turns to online information created by egg providers themselves. Two chapters revolve around the analysis of blogs written by egg providers to explore how they describe their experiences and engage with dominant narratives. These analyses show how egg providers use online spaces to share practical information, reflect on emotional and physical experiences, and create a sense of community. The blogs also reveal tensions between altruistic ideals and lived realities, offering valuable insight into how egg providers negotiate meaning in their own terms. The final empirical study, an international Delphi survey, brought together experts and experienced egg providers to identify what information is relevant and morally necessary for valid IC. This study provided a foundation for adequate information disclosure and future research that reflects both professional and lived perspectives. The general discussion connects the findings across these studies. It addresses how altruistic framings may operate as “echo chambers”, limiting egg providers in their own meaning-making. It also explores how power imbalances shape IC and information provision and suggests a shift toward a plural, co-productive approach that values experiential knowledge alongside professional expertise. The discussion concludes with recommendations for practice and reflections on future research directions.