This supplementary information is presented as submitted by the corresponding author. It has not been copy-edited by NTvG.

To assess the general consensus towards initiating the cryopreservation and storage of oocytes in the Netherlands.

Poll investigation

Poll by the Dutch EenVandaag opinion panel with nearly 19.000 participants in May 2011 with use of online questionnaires. The poll results were adjusted to the Dutch population for the following items based on data from the Dutch Central Office for Statistics: age, gender, education, marital status, geographical area and political preference. 

The primary endpoint was to establish the percentage of supporters of oocyte freezing for own future use and the concept of oocyte banking facilities in The Netherlands. The secondary endpoint was to explore demographic differences between supporters and opponents by exploring the gender, age, child wish and education level of respondents.

Approximately half of the participants of the total 18.911 participants (47%) support oocyte freezing, 42% oppose and 11% are uncertain. Two thirds of the supporters approve of oocyte freezing for medical and social reasons. One third approve of oocyte freezing for medical indications only. Thirty-eight percent support whereas 55% oppose oocyte freezing in single women. Twenty-seven percent of all participants believe that women should make career a priority whereas 67% disapprove of this idea. Fifty-percent of all participants support oocyte banking in the Netherlands, 1/3 are opposed and 13% are uncertain. Supporters are mainly women < 46 years of age, who are more highly educated and childless. Four percent of participating women < 46 years old would seriously consider obtaining donor eggs from an available oocyte banking facility. Twelve percent of participating women < 46 years of age say they would seriously consider donating their oocytes to another woman.

The most relevant arguments against oocyte freezing and banking are that women should reproduce during normal reproductive years and unless there is a clear medical indication, should avoid such treatment.

Poll results show support for oocyte freezing and banking in the Netherlands.

This supplementary information is presented as submitted by the corresponding author. It has not been copy-edited by NTvG.