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Bolt SH, Maas AJBM, Indekeu A, van Nistelrooij I. Legal age limits in accessing donor information: experiences of donor-conceived people, parents, sperm donors and counsellors. Reprod Biomed Online 2024; 48:103846. [PMID: 38579663 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2024.103846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION What are the lived experiences of donor-conceived people, parents, sperm donors and counsellors related to legal age limits on accessing donor information in the Netherlands? DESIGN A phenomenological study was carried out that included 20 donor-conceived individuals, 15 parents, 6 sperm donors and 5 counsellors. Data were collected through online qualitative in-depth interviews and focus groups. The data were analysed using Dahlberg's Reflective Lifeworld Approach. RESULTS The results show how: (i) age limits create challenges related to dependency, autonomy and loyalty to parents; (ii) donor information can be important for identity development, which looks different at different ages; (iii) inaccessible information can lead to unfair loss and may be perceived as negative; (iv) relational stability provides a good foundation for dealing with the (in)accessibility of donor information; (v) procedural barriers and age limits increase the inaccessibility of donor information; and (vi) comprehensive counselling is desired for donor-conceived individuals, parents and donors. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that legal age limits on accessing donor information can lead to several negative consequences. The age limits focus on one individual, which is not appropriate for questions about ancestry that always pertain to a relational network. Counselling should be tailored to the child's needs, and the child's family should be involved. Furthermore, the donor should receive independent counselling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Astrid Indekeu
- Fiom, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.; Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Zadeh S. Direct-to-consumer DNA testing: the perspectives and experiences of donor conceived young adults in the UK. Reprod Biomed Online 2024; 49:103969. [PMID: 38744028 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2024.103969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION What meanings do donor conceived young adults give to direct-to-consumer DNA testing, and how does direct-to-consumer DNA testing relate to their lived experiences? DESIGN Thirty-three young adults participated in in-depth interviews in November 2020 and September 2021 as part of a study of donor conceived people in the UK that focuses on the period of young adulthood. All participants were aged between 18 and 31 years, had been conceived by sperm donation at a time of legal donor anonymity, and were mainly resident in the UK. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS Nineteen participants (58%) had used at least one direct-to-consumer DNA test, and 14 (46%) had not. Three participants (9%) had learned about their donor conception inadvertently through a direct-to-consumer DNA test. Twelve participants (36%) had matched with their donor, someone conceived using the same donor, or both. Four related themes that capture participants' perspectives and experiences of direct-to-consumer DNA testing were identified: ruptures, disclosures, webs and temporalities. CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to evidence both active interest and disinterest in direct-to-consumer DNA testing among individuals who are donor conceived. The meanings ascribed to, and uses of, direct-to-consumer DNA testing vary significantly among donor conceived young adults. Findings relating to the relationship between 'informal' and 'formal' information systems, and the absence of guidance and support for those using direct-to-consumer DNA tests, should be considered carefully by practitioners, regulatory bodies and policymakers going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Zadeh
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
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Widbom A, Isaksson S, Sydsjö G, Skoog Svanberg A, Lampic C. The motives and experiences of donor-conceived persons requesting the identity of their sperm donors. Reprod Biomed Online 2024; 48:103413. [PMID: 37914558 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION What are the motives and experiences of donor-conceived persons (DCP) who search for and receive information about their identity-release sperm donor? DESIGN A qualitative interview study with 29 individuals (21 women, seven men, one non-binary) who were consecutively recruited after having requested information about their sperm donor at five Swedish University hospitals. All participants were conceived after donor insemination to heterosexual couples within an identity-release donation programme. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or via telephone between September 2016 and November 2019, and transcribed audio recordings were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS The motives and experiences of DCP were described in two themes. The theme 'donor information can fill different needs' describes that varying motives, thoughts and feelings are related to searching for and obtaining donor information. Motives ranged from curiosity and a desire for agency over one's conception to hopes of finding a new father. The theme 'navigating donor information in a relational context' describes the process of obtaining donor information as interpersonal, highlighting that the DCP needs to balance the interests of different stakeholders, and that obtaining donor information can challenge the relationship quality with the father. CONCLUSIONS Obtaining the donor's identity has the potential to affect the understanding of DCP of themselves, and to influence relationships within their family in unexpected and challenging ways. Therefore, adequate resources should be allocated to support the growing number of families after identity-release donation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Widbom
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Stina Isaksson
- Region Västra Götaland, Södra Älvsborg Hospital, Department of Research, Education and Innovation, 501 82 Borås, Sweden
| | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Agneta Skoog Svanberg
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Claudia Lampic
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Psychology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
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Koh AS, Bos HMW, Rothblum ED, Carone N, Gartrell NK. Donor sibling relations among adult offspring conceived via insemination by lesbian parents. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:2166-2174. [PMID: 37697711 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION How do adult offspring in planned lesbian-parent families feel about and relate to their donor (half) sibling(s) (DS)? SUMMARY ANSWER A majority of offspring had found DS and maintained good ongoing relationships, and all offspring (regardless of whether a DS had been identified) were satisfied with their knowledge of and contact level with the DS. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The first generation of donor insemination offspring of intended lesbian-parent families is now in their 30s. Coincident with this is an increased use of DNA testing and genetic ancestry websites, facilitating the discovery of donor siblings from a common sperm donor. Few studies of offspring and their DS include sexual minority parent (SMP) families, and only sparse data separately analyze the offspring of SMP families or extend the analyses to established adult offspring. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This cohort study included 75 adult offspring, longitudinally followed since conception in lesbian-parent families. Quantitative analyses were performed from online surveys of the offspring in the seventh wave of the 36-year study, with a 90% family retention rate. The data were collected from March 2021 to November 2022. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Participants were 30- to 33-year-old donor insemination offspring whose lesbian parents enrolled in a US prospective longitudinal study when these offspring were conceived. Offspring who knew of a DS were asked about their numbers found, characteristics or motivations for meeting, DS terminology, relationship quality and maintenance, and impact of the DS contact on others. All offspring (with or without known DS) were asked about the importance of knowing if they have DS and their terminology, satisfaction with information about DS, and feelings about future contact. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Of offspring, 53% (n = 40) had found DS in modest numbers, via a DS or sperm bank registry in 45% of cases, and most of these offspring had made contact. The offspring had their meeting motivations fulfilled, viewed the DS as acquaintances more often than siblings or friends, and maintained good relationships via meetings, social media, and cell phone communication. They disclosed their DS meetings to most relatives with neutral impact. The offspring, whether with known or unknown DS, felt neutral about the importance of knowing if they had DS, were satisfied with what they knew (or did not know) of the DS, and were satisfied with their current level of DS contact. This study is the largest, longest-running longitudinal study of intended lesbian-parent families and their offspring, and due to its prospective nature, is not biased by over-sampling offspring who were already satisfied with their DS. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The sample was from the USA, and mostly White, highly educated individuals, not representative of the diversity of donor insemination offspring of lesbian-parent families. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS While about half of the offspring found out about DS, the other half did not. Regardless of knowing of a DS, these adult offspring of lesbian parents were satisfied with their level of DS contact. Early disclosure and identity formation about being donor-conceived in a lesbian-parent family may distinguish these study participants from donor insemination offspring and adoptees in the general population, who may be more compelled to seek genetic relatives. The study participants who sought DS mostly found a modest number of them, in contrast to reports in studies that have found large numbers of DS. This may be because one-third of study offspring had donors known to the families since conception, who may have been less likely to participate in commercial sperm banking or internet donation sites, where quotas are difficult to enforce or nonexistent. The study results have implications for anyone considering gamete donation, gamete donors, donor-conceived offspring, and/or gamete banks, as well as the medical and public policy professionals who advise them. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) No funding was provided for this project. The authors have no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey S Koh
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Henny M W Bos
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther D Rothblum
- Department of Women's Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nicola Carone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Nanette K Gartrell
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Zeghiche S, Côté I, Lavoie K. 'Once you open that Pandora's box, you cannot close it': a qualitative study on family relationships following insemination fraud. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 47:103220. [PMID: 37246106 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Insemination fraud occurs when the spermatozoa intended for insemination have been intentionally swapped for another person's without the knowledge of the intended family. In what ways is this experienced by recipient parents and their offspring? DESIGN This was a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 15 participants (seven parents and eight donor-conceived individuals) affected by insemination fraud involving the same doctor in Canada. RESULTS This study documents how insemination fraud is experienced by recipient parents and (their) offspring at the personal and relational levels. At the personal level, insemination fraud can induce a sense of agency loss for the recipient parents and a (temporary) sense of identity realignment for the offspring. At the relational level, it can lead to a reshuffling of genetic ties through the new genetic mapping it involves. This reshuffling can, in turn, disrupt kinship ties, leaving a deep imprint that some families struggle to overcome. Experiences differ depending on whether or not the progenitor is known, and when he is known, on whether it is another donor or the doctor himself. CONCLUSIONS Given the significant challenges that insemination fraud poses to the families who experience it, it is important that this practice be subjected to the medical, legal and social scrutiny it deserves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Zeghiche
- Department of Social Work, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Québec, Canada; Canada Research Chair on Third-Party Reproduction and Family Ties, Gatineau, Québec, Canada.
| | - Isabel Côté
- Department of Social Work, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Québec, Canada; Canada Research Chair on Third-Party Reproduction and Family Ties, Gatineau, Québec, Canada
| | - Kévin Lavoie
- School of Social Work and Criminology, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
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Quintigliano M, Carone N, Speranza AM, Tanzilli A, Baiocco R, Barone L, Pastorelli C, Lingiardi V. Adolescent Development and the Parent-Adolescent Relationship in Diverse Family Forms Created by Assisted Reproduction. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16758. [PMID: 36554637 PMCID: PMC9778924 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) are employed by single individuals and couples who are not otherwise able to conceive spontaneously. While the use of ARTs is increasing, research is lacking on the attempts made by adolescent offspring conceived via ARTs to integrate their ART conception into their identity and negotiate a connection with, and autonomy from, their parents. The present article reviews studies investigating adolescent development and the parent-adolescent relationship in diverse family forms created by ARTs (mainly heterosexual and lesbian parent families), and discusses the results in light of attachment, identity development, and emotional distance regulation theories. Overall, the results indicate that the psychological adjustment of adolescents conceived via ARTs is not undermined by the manner of their conception, and that they enjoy positive relationships with their parents with no difference from those enjoyed by spontaneously conceived adolescents. However, it remains unknown whether the development of a reproductive identity in adolescence is likely to influence adolescents' interest in searching for or contacting their donors, surrogates, and/or donor siblings. The results suggest the relevance of considering the parent-adolescent relationship, disclosure, and identity formation issues when planning psychological counseling and support interventions with ART parents and their adolescent offspring, and emphasize the need to further investigate these aspects in diverse ART families, including single-, gay-, bisexual-, and trans*-parent families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Quintigliano
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Carone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 11, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Speranza
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Tanzilli
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Baiocco
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Lavinia Barone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 11, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Concetta Pastorelli
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Vittorio Lingiardi
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Guerrini CJ, Robinson JO, Bloss CC, Bash Brooks W, Fullerton SM, Kirkpatrick B, Lee SSJ, Majumder M, Pereira S, Schuman O, McGuire AL. Family secrets: Experiences and outcomes of participating in direct-to-consumer genetic relative-finder services. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:486-497. [PMID: 35216680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, genetic genealogy has become popular as a result of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. Some DTC genetic testing companies offer genetic relative-finder (GRF) services that compare the DNA of consenting participants to identify genetic relatives among them and provide each participant a list of their relative matches. We surveyed a convenience sample of GRF service participants to understand the prevalence of discoveries and associated experiences. Almost half (46%) of the 23,196 respondents had participated in GRF services only for non-specific reasons that included interest in building family trees and general curiosity. However, most (82%) also learned the identity of at least one genetic relative. Separately, most respondents (61%) reported learning something new about themselves or their relatives, including potentially disruptive information such as that a person they believed to be their biological parent is in fact not or that they have a sibling they had not known about. Respondents generally reported that discovering this new information had a neutral or positive impact on their lives, and most had low regret regarding their decision to participate in GRF services. Yet some reported making life changes as a result of their discoveries. Compared to respondents making other types of discoveries, those who learned that they were donor conceived reported the highest decisional regret and represented the largest proportion reporting net-negative consequences for themselves. Our findings indicate that discoveries from GRF services may be common and that the consequences for individuals, while generally positive, can be far-reaching and complex.
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Graham S. The opposite of a step parent - The genetics without any of the emotion: 'sperm donors' reflections on identity-release donation and relatedness. REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE & SOCIETY ONLINE 2022; 14:192-203. [PMID: 35024475 PMCID: PMC8732782 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbms.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper draws upon data from an online survey with closed- and open-ended questions completed by 168 identity-release sperm donors who had all donated in the UK between 2010 and 2016. Paying particular attention to the qualitative data obtained from the donors' responses to the open-ended questions, this paper explores the sperm donors' thoughts and feelings about being an identity-release donor and about future information exchange and contact with offspring conceived with their gametes. It shows that the majority of donors regarded identity-release donation as their preferred method of donation, supported the removal of anonymity, did not have concerns about being an identity-release donor and indeed saw positives for both the donor-conceived offspring and themselves. However, it also highlights that the donors' thoughts and feelings about being an identity-release sperm donor, how they saw themselves in relation to the individual conceived with their donation, and their preferences for information exchange and contact, varied greatly. The paper explores how identity-release donation is surrounding by many unknowns and consequentially sperm donors struggle to conceptualize what it means to be an identity-release sperm donor. As well as adding to the literature on donor conception, relatedness and kinship, by giving voice to sperm donors' own views and experience of the identity-release regulatory context, and their thoughts and feelings about future information exchange, this paper will help policy makers and clinicians prepare for the imminent time when donor-conceived individuals in the UK can start requesting their donor's identity.
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Sociological Accounts of Donor Siblings' Experiences: Their Importance for Self-Identity and New Kinship Relations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042002. [PMID: 35206190 PMCID: PMC8871783 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental part of the adolescent self is formed through interaction with intimates, usually family members whose roles are reasonably well-defined. However, donor siblings-children who share a sperm donor-lack social scripts for interacting with one another, particularly when they are raised in different households. Moreover, they are often challenged to figure out their relationship to newly discovered genetic relatives. This article examines how donor-conceived teens and young adults navigate relationships with their half siblings and form intimate relationships. Drawing on Garfinkel's concept of indexing, or the use of familiar categories to make sense of new situations, these youth rely upon their personal knowledge of friends and family to figure out what kinds of relationship they can develop with donor siblings. Based on interviews with 62 youth aged 14-28, who had their own social media accounts and who had chosen to establish contact with their donor siblings, the articles discusses the three stages most donor siblings go through-"anticipation", "first contact", and "relationship building"-and the way those stages shape individual identity formation. In the course of the analysis, the article also explores whether interaction with donor siblings affected individual's sense of identity and whether feelings of closeness with donor siblings differ for youth raised as solo children versus those who have siblings with whom they share a household. For those who report feeling close, youth describe how intimacy is sustained and negotiated at a distance. Finally, as much as youth pick and choose intimates from their larger network, the article also argues that their collective identity as related-kin members remains.
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Kirkman-Brown J, Calhaz-Jorge C, Dancet EAF, Lundin K, Martins M, Tilleman K, Thorn P, Vermeulen N, Frith L. OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Reprod Open 2022; 2022:hoac001. [PMID: 35178481 PMCID: PMC8847071 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What information and support should be offered to donors, intended parents and donor-conceived people, in general and in consideration of the availability of direct-to-consumer genetic testing and matching services? SUMMARY ANSWER For donors, intended parents and donor-conceived offspring, recommendations are made that cover information needs and informed consent, psychosocial implications and disclosure. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Trends indicate that the use of donor-assisted conception is growing and guidance is needed to help these recipients/intended parents, the donors and offspring, navigate the rapidly changing environment in which donor-assisted conception takes place. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A working group (WG) collaborated on writing recommendations based, where available, on evidence collected from a literature search and expert opinion. Draft recommendations were published for stakeholder review and adapted where relevant based on the comments received. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Papers retrieved from PUBMED were included from 1 January 2014 up to 31 August 2020, focusing on studies published since direct-to-consumer genetic testing has become more widespread and accessible. The current paper is limited to reproductive donation performed in medically assisted reproduction (MAR) centres (and gamete banks): donation outside the medical context was not considered. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In total, 32 recommendations were made for information provision and support to donors, 32 for intended parents and 27 for donor-conceived offspring requesting information/support. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The available evidence in the area of reproductive donation is limited and diverse with regards to the context and types of donation. General conclusions and recommendations are largely based on expert opinion and may need to be adapted in light of future research. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS These recommendations provide guidance to MAR centres and gamete banks on good practice in information provision and support but should also be considered by regulatory bodies and policymakers at a national and international level to guide regulatory and legislative efforts towards the protection of donors and donor-conceived offspring. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The development of this good practice paper was funded by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), covering expenses associated with the WG meetings, the literature searches and dissemination. The WG members did not receive any payment. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. DISCLAIMER This document represents the views of ESHRE, which are the result of consensus between the relevant ESHRE stakeholders and where relevant based on the scientific evidence available at the time of preparation. The recommendations should be used for informational and educational purposes. They should not be interpreted as setting a standard of care, or be deemed inclusive of all proper methods of care nor exclusive of other methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. They do not replace the need for application of clinical judgement to each individual presentation, nor variations based on locality and facility type. †ESHRE pages content is not externally peer reviewed. The manuscript has been approved by the Executive Committee of ESHRE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jackson Kirkman-Brown
- Centre for Human Reproductive Science, University of Birmingham, IMSR, Birmingham, UK
- Correspondence address. University of Birmingham, IMSR, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. E-mail: ;
| | | | - Eline A F Dancet
- KU Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kersti Lundin
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mariana Martins
- University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Porto, Portugal
| | - Kelly Tilleman
- Department for Reproductive Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Petra Thorn
- Private Practice, Couple and Family Therapy, Infertility Counseling, Mörfelden, Germany
| | - Nathalie Vermeulen
- European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Central Office, Strombeek-Bever, Belgium
| | - Lucy Frith
- Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Lampic C, Skoog Svanberg A, Gudmundsson J, Leandersson P, Solensten NG, Thurin-Kjellberg A, Wånggren K, Sydsjö G. National survey of donor-conceived individuals who requested information about their sperm donor-experiences from 17 years of identity releases in Sweden. Hum Reprod 2021; 37:510-521. [PMID: 34918081 PMCID: PMC8888998 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What characterizes the group of donor-conceived (DC) individuals who request information about their identity-release sperm donor in Sweden, and what are their experiences of disclosure, information receipt and donor contact? SUMMARY ANSWER Following three decades of identity-release donation in Sweden, few DC individuals have requested donor information with varying experiences of information receipt and donor contact. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY In 1985, Sweden was the first country worldwide to enact legislation that gave DC individuals the right to obtain identifying information about their donor. Since then, identity-release gamete donation has become available in many countries but there is limited knowledge about the individuals who request donor information. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A nation-wide cross-sectional survey study was performed at all seven University hospitals that provided donation treatment in Sweden during 1985-2002. During this period only donor insemination to heterosexual couples was permitted. Inclusion criteria were being 18 years of age or older, conceived with donor sperm and having requested information about the donor by December 2020. Recruitment was performed during 2016-2020. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS A total of 60 individuals had requested information about their donor. Of these, 53 were approached and 40 individuals, representing 34 families, accepted study participation (75% response rate). Participants completed a postal survey with the WHO-10 well-being index and study-specific questions about experiences of disclosure, motivations for requesting donor information, receipt of information, as well as intentions and experiences of donor contact. Independent t-test and chi-square tests were used to compare ratings of participants with early and late disclosure. MAIN RESULTS AND ROLE OF CHANCE Of ∼900 DC individuals who had reached adult age, a total of 60 (≈7%) had requested information about the donor. Most of the 40 study participants (78%) made their requests within 2 years after reaching 18 years of age, or following disclosure at later ages (up to 32 years). Several participants had adult DC siblings in the family who had not requested any donor information. All except five participants received identifying information about the donor from the clinic. However, some donors had died or lacked contact information. Among those participants who were able to contact their donor, 41% had done so at the time of the study, while a third of the participants were unsure about potential contact. Several had met the donor in person and a few were in regular contact. About half of the participants had been informed about their donor conception in adolescence or adulthood (age 12-32), and there were significant differences between participants based on age at disclosure. Compared to those with early disclosure, participants with late disclosure were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with the timing of their disclosure (P = 0.021), to react with negative emotions (P < 0.001), and to subsequently contact the donor (P = 0.047). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The limited population available for inclusion resulted in a small sample size, despite a high response rate. In addition, men's lower participation rate must be taken into consideration when interpreting the results. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The small number of individuals requesting information about their identity-release sperm donor is surprising. While not all DC individuals appear to be interested in donor information, it is reasonable to assume that some are unaware of their donor conception and thus unable to make informed decisions regarding their genetic origins. During the coming years, young women and men in many countries will become eligible to access identifying information about their donor. In order to meet the needs of these individuals, and to support positive outcomes for all involved parties, it is essential that adequate protocols and resources are developed. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST Financial support from The Swedish Research Council. There are no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Lampic
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Johannes Gudmundsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Reproductive Medicine Centre, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pia Leandersson
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Skåne University Hospital Malmö, Malmö, Sweden
| | | | - Ann Thurin-Kjellberg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Division of Reproductive Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kjell Wånggren
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Division of Children's and Women's Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Bolt SH, Notermans C, van Brouwershaven AC, Maas AJBM, Indekeu A. The ongoing work of kinship among donor half-siblings in The Netherlands. BIOSOCIETIES 2021. [DOI: 10.1057/s41292-021-00259-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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13
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Widbom A, Isaksson S, Sydsjö G, Skoog Svanberg A, Lampic C. Positioning the donor in a new landscape-mothers' and fathers' experiences as their adult children obtained information about the identity-release sperm donor. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:2181-2188. [PMID: 34151354 PMCID: PMC8289314 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION How do heterosexual parents experience identity-release donation when adult children have obtained information about their sperm donor? SUMMARY ANSWER Adult offspring's receipt of identifying information about the sperm donor challenged the fathers' role as a parent, which was reflected in how parents positioned the donor in relation to the family. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY An increasing number of countries provide access to treatment with identity-release or 'open-identity' donors. However, there is limited knowledge about how parents experience and manage the situation when adult offspring obtain identifying information about the donor and may even establish contact with him. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This qualitative interview study included 23 parents whose offspring had obtained information about their sperm donor. Interviews were conducted from October 2018 to January 2019. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS A purposive sample of parents (15 mothers and 8 fathers) was recruited via adult offspring, who had requested identifying donor information at five Swedish University hospitals. All participating parents were part of a heterosexual couple who had conceived with sperm from an identity-release donor. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to face or via telephone, and transcribed audio recordings were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The parents expressed diverse experiences related to their parenthood and the presence of the donor after offspring had obtained information about him; these were described in two themes. The theme 'Navigating (in)visible markers of parenthood' describes parenthood as embedded with dichotomous meanings of nature and nurture that parents navigated in relation to social approval. The theme 'Positioning the donor in a new landscape' describes how parents managed the presence of the donor by positioning him at a distance or acknowledging him as a person or even as part of the family, while some struggled to position him, giving rise to ambivalent feelings. The absence of genetic connectedness challenged the father's role as parent, which was reflected in parents' positioning of the donor. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The study was performed within the context of the Swedish legislation on identity-release donation and is based on experiences of heterosexual couples who had used sperm donation and had informed their offspring about their donor conception. This, together with the fact that parents' accounts were predominantly represented by mothers, must be taken into consideration regarding transferability to other populations. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Negotiations of social and genetic parenthood are still present among parents many years after treatment and may resurface when adult offspring obtain the donor's identity. Access of the adult offspring to identifying information about the donor may have unexpected consequences for family relations, including expanding the family to include the donor. Challenges related to male infertility and family dynamics indicate that parents should have access to counseling and support to manage family life with varying genetic linkage within and outside the family unit. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Financial support was from The Swedish Research Council (Grant 2013-2712). There are no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Widbom
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stina Isaksson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden,Department of Research, Education and Innovation, Region Västra Götaland, Södra Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, Sweden
| | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Division of Children’s and Women’s Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Claudia Lampic
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden,Correspondence address. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1739-4486
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14
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Golombok S. Love and Truth: What Really Matters for Children Born Through Third‐Party Assisted Reproduction. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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15
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Macmillan CM, Allan S, Johnstone M, Stokes MA. The motivations of donor-conceived adults for seeking information about, and contact with, sperm donors. Reprod Biomed Online 2021; 43:149-158. [PMID: 34006483 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION How do the demographic characteristics, mental health experiences and disclosure experiences of donor-conceived adults shape motivations for seeking information about their sperm donors, contact with them, or both? DESIGN Sixty-nine Australian adults who conceived through sperm donors completed an online survey. Uniquely, information and contact seeking were investigated as two distinct concepts. RESULTS Participants reported a variety of demographic, mental health, disclosure and discovery experiences. Most had been motivated to seek information about their donor (88%), contact with them (71%), or both. The most commonly reported motivations for each act were for medical information, expanding their identity and curiosity. Logistic regression findings were significant for wanting medical information as a motivation for seeking donor information (P = 0.03). Endorsement of this motivation was associated with self-reported anxiety (P = 0.02) and less likely as participant age increased (P = 0.02). Motivation to contact donors for medical information was associated with self-reported anxiety (P = 0.02) and depression (P = 0.01), and more likely when the participant was raised in a household that included the recipient co-parent (P = 0.04). As years since disclosure or discovery increased, participants were less likely to report wanting medical information as a motivation (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Overall, participants were motivated to obtain information and seek contact with sperm donors. Motivations for each were similar despite participants varying in age and reporting a range of circumstances regarding disclosure, some of which were adverse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Macmillan
- Department of Health Systems and Populations, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 2 Technology Pl, Macquarie Park NSW 2113, Australia.
| | - Sonia Allan
- Department of Health Systems and Populations, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 2 Technology Pl, Macquarie Park NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Melissa Johnstone
- Department of Health and Human Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 29 Wally's Walk, Balaclava Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Mark A Stokes
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood Vic 3125, Australia
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Abstract
Debates regarding donor-conceived people's rights to genetic information have caused some jurisdictions to abolish donor anonymity. Moreover, voluntary services have been established whose primary focus is providing possibilities to find information about the donor. A less discussed consequence is that donor-conceived people also find information about donor half-siblings: people conceived through the same donor. In the recent climate of openness and online DNA tests, there is an increased chance of finding multiple donor half-siblings. This study explored how donor-conceived people experience meeting multiple same-donor offspring in a group setting. Second, the study investigated donor-conceived people's need for support when meeting multiple donor half-siblings. A qualitative approach was used. Nineteen donor-conceived offspring who participated in donor half-sibling network meetings were interviewed. Using a grounded theory approach three themes were identified regarding group aspects: (i) defining group membership; (ii) regulating closeness and distance; and (iii) managing group dynamics. Professional support needs in relation to these themes were also analysed. While establishing relationships between donor half-siblings are viewed as generally more beneficial than connecting with a donor, this study showed that these new relationships also come with their challenges, and counselling may need to be refined towards a more specific same donor-offspring relationships' framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Indekeu
- Fiom, s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.,Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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17
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Martin A. Être issu·e·s du même don : partager des
« origines » en assistance médicale à la procréation avec tiers donneur
(Royaume-Uni, France). ENFANCES, FAMILLES, GÉNÉRATIONS 2021. [DOI: 10.7202/1082326ar] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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18
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Noël R, Allard MA, Pelletier G. Le don d’ovules dirigé : conjuguer
narratif de don et narratif de conception pour penser les origines. ENFANCES, FAMILLES, GÉNÉRATIONS 2021. [DOI: 10.7202/1082325ar] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Scheib JE, McCormick E, Benward J, Ruby A. Finding people like me: contact among young adults who share an open-identity sperm donor. Hum Reprod Open 2020; 2020:hoaa057. [PMID: 33585704 PMCID: PMC7872122 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoaa057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What interests and experiences do donor-conceived adults have with respect to same-donor peers/siblings, when they share an open-identity sperm donor? SUMMARY ANSWER Donor-conceived young adults report considerable interest in, and primarily positive experiences with, their same-donor peers, with some finding ‘people like me’. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Through mutual-consent contact registries, director-to-consumer DNA testing and other means, donor-conceived people with anonymous (i.e. closed-identity) sperm donors are gaining identity-related information from, and establishing relationships with, people who share their donor. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Semi-structured, in depth telephone and Skype interviews with 47 donor-conceived young adults were carried out over a 31-month period. Inclusion criteria were being one of the first adults for each donor to obtain their identity and being at least 1-year post donor-information release. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Participants (aged 19–29 years, 68.1% women) were born to female same-sex couple parents (46.8%), a single mother (29.8%) or heterosexual couple parents (23.4%); all parents had conceived through the same US open-identity sperm donation program. The dataset was analyzed thematically and included interviews from only one participant per family. Each participant had a different donor. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Interest in, and experiences with, same-donor peers suggested that they occupy a unique position in the lives of donor-conceived young adults who share their open-identity donor. Contact can provide identity-relevant information and support through the availability of relationships (whether actualized or potential), shared experiences, and easier relationships than with their donor. Most donor-conceived young adults felt positively about their contact experiences. Of those not yet linked, almost all expressed an interest to do so. Some had met the children raised by their donor. When asked, all expressed an interest in doing so. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Interviews were conducted with donor-conceived young adults who were uncommon in their generation in terms of: having an open-identity sperm donor; the majority knowing about their family’s origins from childhood; and having parents that accessed at the time one of the only open-identity sperm donation programs. Further research is needed to assess applicability to all donor-conceived adults; findings may be more relevant to the growing number of people who have an open-identity donor and learned in childhood about their family’s origins. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Participants were among the first generation of donor-conceived adults with an open-identity sperm donor. Their experiences and perspectives can provide essential guidance to programs and others with similar origins. Early disclosure of family origins and identifying the donor did not diminish the young adults’ interest in their same-donor peers. Positive experiences suggest that the benefits of contact include not only identity-relevant information (through shared traits and experiences), but also relationships with and support from people who understand the uncommon experience of being donor conceived. Implications include the need to educate families and intended parents about the potential benefits of knowing others who are donor conceived, and the risk of unexpected linking across families by donors, regardless of donor-conceived person or family interest. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study was funded by the Lesbian Health Fund of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Scheib
- Psychology Department, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,The Sperm Bank of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - E McCormick
- University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - J Benward
- Private Practice, San Ramon, CA, USA
| | - A Ruby
- The Sperm Bank of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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20
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Abstract
Donor-conceived neonates have poorer birth outcomes, including low birth weight and preterm delivery that are associated with poorer long-term health in adulthood through the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) theory. The aim of this study was to conduct the first investigation of the adult health outcomes of donor-conceived people. An online health survey was completed by 272 donor sperm-conceived adults and 877 spontaneously conceived adults from around the world. Donor and spontaneously conceived groups were matched for age, sex, height, smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, own fertility and maternal smoking. Donor sperm-conceived adults had significantly higher reports of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (P = 0.031), thyroid disease (P = 0.031), acute bronchitis (P = 0.008), environmental allergies (P = 0.046), sleep apnoea (P = 0.037) and having ear tubes/grommets surgically implanted (P = 0.046). This is the first study to investigate the health outcomes of adult donor sperm-conceived people. Donor sperm-conceived adults self-reported elevated frequencies of various health conditions. The outcomes are consistent with birth defect data from donor sperm treatment and are consistent with the DOHaD linking perturbed early growth and chronic disease in adulthood.
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21
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Adult offspring of lesbian parents: How do they relate to their sperm donors? Fertil Steril 2020; 114:879-887. [PMID: 32631697 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study how adult offspring in planned lesbian-parent families relate to their unknown or known donors. DESIGN Qualitative analyses of the sixth wave of online surveys from a longitudinal study of adult offspring in planned lesbian families, enrolled at conception. SETTING Community-based United States national study. PATIENT(S) The 76 participants were 25-year-old donor insemination (DI) offspring whose lesbian parent(s) enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study when these offspring were conceived. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Offspring were asked about donor type, feelings about permanently unknown donor, satisfaction with and role of known donor, whether relationship with known donor was ongoing, and age of meeting open-identity donor. RESULT(S) This cohort (n = 76) of DI offspring with lesbian parents was among the first generation to reach adulthood. Thirty participants had permanently unknown donors and most participants felt comfortable about not knowing them. Sixteen participants had open-identity donors they had not met. Thirty had currently known donors-met in childhood (n = 22) or after open-identity donor disclosure (n = 8)-of whom two thirds had ongoing relationships with donors, half considered their donors as acquaintances, and nearly half had good feelings about their relationship, although a minority expressed conflicted feelings. CONCLUSION(S) This study of adult DI offspring from planned lesbian families shows that those who knew their donors mainly felt positively about these relationships. Qualitative analyses offered insight into offspring-donor relationships, whose numbers are increasing due to historical and demographic trends.
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Rubio MIJ, Agoglia IS. “Siempre le he contado su historia”: prácticas y narrativas familiares sobre “los orígenes” en adopciones monoparentales. MANA 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-49442020v26n1a206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Resumen Las familias “dependientes del discurso” (Galvin 2006), como son las adoptivas, se conforman mediante cuatro prácticas: nombrar (designar a los miembros de la familia dándoles un lugar en ella), discutir (hablar sobre la situación familiar), narrar (elaborar una historia de adopción para los hijos) y ritualizar (reconocer la adopción con celebraciones y actividades cotidianas). En este artículo, analizamos las tres primeras prácticas en familias adoptivas monoparentales españolas y chilenas. Entre los resultados más sobresalientes, se muestran en estas configuraciones adoptivas actitudes y prácticas de apertura comunicativa, que conllevan narrar tempranamente a los hijos las circunstancias que rodearon su adopción y hablarles de sus madres y padres de origen, realizando esfuerzos por desculpabilizar y empatizar con estas figuras, e incluso sumándolas como parte de sus familias extendidas desde una perspectiva de pluriparentalidad.
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23
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Dempsey D, Kelly F, Horsfall B, Hammarberg K, Bourne K, Johnson L. Applications to statutory donor registers in Victoria, Australia: information sought and expectations of contact. REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE & SOCIETY ONLINE 2019; 9:28-36. [PMID: 31956702 PMCID: PMC6957838 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbms.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of genetic origins is widely believed to have consequences for health, family belonging and personal identity. Donor linking is the process by which donors, recipient parents (RP) and donor-conceived people (DCP) gain access to identifying information about each other. This paper reports on the information and contact sought by donor-linking applicants to the central and voluntary registers in the state of Victoria, Australia, which has one of the most comprehensive donor-linking legislative frameworks in the world. Applicants to the Victorian registers complete a statement of reasons (SOR), a written document that is given to the subject of the application, outlining their reasons for applying and their short- and long-term goals. SOR written by applicants between 29 June 2015 and 28 February 2017 who had agreed to be recontacted for research were analysed. Forty-two of 93 eligible applicants took part (45%). All applications pertained to donor sperm. RP were the largest applicant group (n = 19) followed by DCP (n = 17) and donors (n = 6). All applicants wanted personal information and most expressed a desire for contact. Single mothers of young children used the registers more than any other parent group, indicating that family structure may influence application patterns. While it is apparent that all applicants are eager for information and some form of interpersonal contact, further research is needed on how the legal and policy landscape of different jurisdictions influences expectations, as well as what happens after parties are linked.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Briony Horsfall
- Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Karin Hammarberg
- Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kate Bourne
- Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louise Johnson
- Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, Melbourne, Australia
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Nordqvist P. Un/familiar connections: on the relevance of a sociology of personal life for exploring egg and sperm donation. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2019; 41:601-615. [PMID: 30801732 PMCID: PMC6850007 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.12862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, reproductive medicine has become a widespread global phenomenon. Within the field, donor conception, and the use of donated eggs, sperm or embryos from a third party, plays a key role. Despite the importance of those individuals who donate, there has been scant research exploring their experiences. Seeking to contribute to the growing, albeit still small, body of research on donors, this paper advocates bringing the process of donating into dialogue with a sociology of personal life. It suggests that important new insights about the donor experience can be achieved by utilising such a theoretical perspective. The paper applies a broad framework of a sociology of personal life to demonstrate that the decision to donate reverberates within donors' everyday lives and relationships, and explores, primarily theoretically, how it is that acts of donation bring such issues into play. To this end, the paper examines in detail three ways in which donating interacts with dimensions that are integral to personal life: "living" genetic connectedness, relationality and the intimate body. Ultimately, the paper suggests that a sociology of personal life shows light on new, unexplored questions for this field that demand greater scholarly attention.
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Canzi E, Accordini M, Facchin F. 'Is blood thicker than water?' Donor conceived offspring's subjective experiences of the donor: a systematic narrative review. Reprod Biomed Online 2019; 38:797-807. [PMID: 30904355 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide a systematic narrative review of the published research articles on donor conceived offspring's subjective experiences of their donor. A systematic search of electronic databases (PsycINFO and PubMed) provided 29 published quantitative and qualitative studies matching the inclusion criteria. The analysis of the studies outcomes led to the identification of four main themes: (i) views/representations of the donor; (ii) desire to contact the donor (in terms of desire to meet the donor, reasons for wanting to contact the donor, type and frequency of contact); (iii) reactions to discovering the donor's identity and contacting the donor; (iv) identity issues. The findings revealed that genetic ties do matter to donor conceived people, especially during adolescence or adulthood. Many donor conceived people were interested in contacting the donor and all of them needed to make meaning of the role of the donor, as well as to integrate it into their family life and self-concept. Besides curiosity and medical reasons, many people reported wanting to contact the donor to see what he/she looked like, and to have access to their own ancestry and genetic history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Canzi
- Family Studies and Research University Centre, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Monica Accordini
- Family Studies and Research University Centre, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Facchin
- Department of Psychology, Family Studies and Research University Centre, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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26
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Zadeh S. Beyond blood
Random Families: Genetic Strangers, Sperm Donor Siblings, and the Creation of New Kin
Rosanna Hertz and Margaret K. Nelson
Oxford University Press, 2018. 312 pp. Science 2018. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aav6866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Strangers conceived via the same sperm donor reveal the role of choice in how we think about kin
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Zadeh
- The reviewer is at the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, UK
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Long-term outcomes of children conceived through egg donation and their parents: a review of the literature. Fertil Steril 2018; 110:1187-1193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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de Melo-Martín I, Rubin LR, Cholst IN. "I want us to be a normal family": Toward an understanding of the functions of anonymity among U.S. oocyte donors and recipients. AJOB Empir Bioeth 2018; 9:235-251. [PMID: 30398412 DOI: 10.1080/23294515.2018.1528308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anonymity remains the more common practice in gamete donations, but legislation prohibiting anonymity with a goal of protecting donor-conceived children's right to know their genetic origins is becoming more common. However, given the dearth of research investigating the function of anonymity for donors and recipients, it is unclear whether these policies will accomplish their goals. The aim of this study was to explore experiences with anonymity among oocyte donors and recipients who participated in an anonymous donor oocyte program and to understand the ways in which anonymity functions for them. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with 50 women: 28 oocyte donors and 22 recipients who were recruited from an academic center for reproductive medicine in the United States. RESULTS Donors and recipients view anonymity both as a mechanism to protect the interests of all parties (recipients, donors, and donor-conceived children) and as a point of conflict. Specifically, three key areas were identified where both donors and recipients saw anonymity as having an important role: relieving anxieties about family structures and obligations; protecting their interests and those of donor-conceived children (while acknowledging where interests conflict); and managing the future. CONCLUSION As gamete donation increasingly moves away from the practice of anonymity, examining why anonymity matters to stakeholders will be helpful in devising strategies to successfully implement identity-release options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa R Rubin
- b Department of Psychology , New School for Social Research
| | - Ina N Cholst
- c The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine , Weill Cornell Medical College
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Kalampalikis N, Doumergue M, Zadeh S. Sperm donor regulation and disclosure intentions: Results from a nationwide multi-centre study in France. REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE & SOCIETY ONLINE 2018; 5:38-45. [PMID: 29774274 PMCID: PMC5952651 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbms.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Gamete donation in Europe is not regulated by a common legal framework. Different laws regarding donor anonymity and remuneration exist in different countries. In France, gamete donation is characterized by a stable legal framework - the existing system of anonymous and non-remunerated donation remained unchanged following a period of public and parliamentary debate in 2011 - but little evidence is available concerning recipients' views and experiences of gamete donation. This article describes findings from a questionnaire completed individually by 714 heterosexual couple members undergoing a donor conception procedure at one of 20 national fertility centres in France. Participants were invited to report their attitudes towards the French legal framework, their perceptions of the anonymous donor, and their intentions to disclose donor conception to their child and to other people. The majority of respondents (93%) approved of the current legal framework. Participants indicated that they thought about the sperm donor in ways that emphasized his act of donation without describing him as a specific individual. A majority (71%) also stated that they intended to tell their child about their donor conception. Given that this is the largest nationwide study of French recipients of donor sperm, the findings make an important contribution to the research evidence currently available about prospective parents' perspectives in the increasingly uncommon context of donor anonymity in Europe.
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Abstract
When intended parents choose to have donor sperm treatment (DST), this may entail wide-ranging and long-lasting psychosocial implications related to the social parent not having a genetic tie with the child, how to disclose donor-conception and future donor contact. Counselling by qualified professionals is recommended to help intended parents cope with these implications. The objective of this study is to present findings and insights about how counsellors execute their counselling practices. We performed a qualitative study that included 13 counsellors working in the 11 clinics offering DST in the Netherlands. We held a focus group discussion and individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews, which were fully transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The counsellors combined screening for eligibility and guidance within one session. They acted according to their individual knowledge and clinical experience and had different opinions on the issues they discussed with intended parents, which resulted in large practice variations. The counsellors were dependent on the admission policies of the clinics, which were mainly limited to regulating access to psychosocial counselling, which also lead to a variety of counselling practices. This means that evidence-based guidelines on counselling in DST need to be developed to provide consistent counselling with less practice variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marja Visser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Trudie Gerrits
- Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sociology and Anthropology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fulco van der Veen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Monique Mochtar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Currently in the United Kingdom, anyone donating gametes has the status of an open-identity donor. This means that, at the age of 18, persons conceived with gametes donated since April 1, 2005 have a right to access certain pieces of identifying information about their donor. However, in early 2015, the UK Parliament approved new regulations that make mitochondrial donors anonymous. Both mitochondrial donation and gamete donation are similar in the basic sense that they involve the contribution of gamete materials to create future persons. Given this similarity, this paper presumes that both types of donor should be treated the same and made open-identity under the law, unless there is a convincing argument for treating them differently. I argue that none of the existing arguments that have been made so far in favor of mitochondrial donor anonymity are convincing and mitochondrial donors should therefore be treated as open-identity donors under UK law.
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Searching for ‘relations’ using a DNA linking register by adults conceived following sperm donation. BIOSOCIETIES 2017. [DOI: 10.1057/s41292-017-0063-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Golombok S. Parenting in new family forms. Curr Opin Psychol 2017; 15:76-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Zadeh S, Jones CM, Basi T, Golombok S. Children's thoughts and feelings about their donor and security of attachment to their solo mothers in middle childhood. Hum Reprod 2017; 32:868-875. [PMID: 28184441 PMCID: PMC5400065 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dex016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What is the relationship between children's thoughts and feelings about their donor and their security of attachment to their solo mothers in middle childhood? SUMMARY ANSWER Children with higher levels of secure–autonomous attachment to their mothers were more likely to have positive perceptions of the donor, and those with higher levels of insecure–disorganized attachment to their mothers were more likely to perceive him negatively. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There is limited understanding of the factors that contribute to children's thoughts and feelings about their donor in solo mother families. In adolescence, an association was found between adolescents’ curiosity about donor conception and their security of attachment to their mothers. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION 19 children were administered the Friends and Family Interview and Donor Conception Interview between December 2015 and March 2016 as part of the second phase of a longitudinal, multi-method, multi-informant study of solo mother families. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS All children were aged between 7 and 13 years and had been conceived by donor insemination to solo mothers. Interviews were conducted in participants’ homes. The Friends and Family Interview was rated according to a standardized coding scheme designed to measure security of attachment in terms of secure–autonomous, insecure–dismissing, insecure–preoccupied and insecure–disorganized attachment patterns. Quantitative analyses of the Donor Conception Interview yielded two factors: interest in the donor and perceptions of the donor. Qualitative analyses of the Donor Conception Interview were conducted using qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Statistically significant associations were found between the perception of the donor scale and the secure–autonomous and insecure–disorganized attachment ratings. Children with higher levels of secure–autonomous attachment to their mothers were more likely to have positive perceptions of the donor (r = 0.549, P = 0.015), and those with higher levels of insecure–disorganized attachment to their mothers were more likely to perceive him negatively (r = −0.632, P = 0.004). Children's narratives about the donor depicted him as a stranger (n = 8), a biological father (n = 4), a social parent (n = 3), or in ambivalent terms (n = 4). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Findings are limited by the wide age range of children within a small overall sample size. Participants were those willing and able to take part in research on donor conception families. The statistical significance of correlation coefficients was not corrected for multiple comparisons. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Findings highlight the importance of situating children's ideas about the donor within family contexts. It is recommended that those working with donor conception families consider this when advising parents about whether, what and how to tell children about donor conception. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by the Wellcome Trust [097857/Z/11/Z]. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Zadeh
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge, UK
| | - C M Jones
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge, UK
| | - T Basi
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge, UK
| | - S Golombok
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge, UK
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Persaud S, Freeman T, Jadva V, Slutsky J, Kramer W, Steele M, Steele H, Golombok S. Adolescents Conceived through Donor Insemination in Mother-Headed Families: A Qualitative Study of Motivations and Experiences of Contacting and Meeting Same-donor Offspring. CHILDREN & SOCIETY 2017; 31:13-22. [PMID: 28042200 PMCID: PMC5157797 DOI: 10.1111/chso.12158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
This study interviewed adolescents conceived using sperm donation to examine their experiences of contacting and meeting 'same-donor offspring' (i.e. donor-conceived offspring raised in different families who share the same donor), their motivations for this contact, and how they make meaning of these relationships. This in-depth qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 23 young people aged 12-19 years (mean = 14 years). Interviewees were motivated by curiosity about their biological relations and by wanting to extend their family. Contact with same-donor offspring was described as being either normal/neutral or as a unique experience that was integrated into their identity. This study highlights the importance of contact between same donor offspring, particularly during adolescence, a developmental stage associated with identity formation. The findings have important policy implications as they suggest that donor-conceived individuals may benefit from contact with others conceived using the same donor prior to the age of 18 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherina Persaud
- Center for Attachment ResearchDepartment of Clinical PsychologyThe New School for Social ResearchNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Tabitha Freeman
- Centre for Family ResearchDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Vasanti Jadva
- Centre for Family ResearchDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Jenna Slutsky
- Center for Attachment ResearchDepartment of Clinical PsychologyThe New School for Social ResearchNew YorkNYUSA
| | | | - Miriam Steele
- Center for Attachment ResearchDepartment of Clinical PsychologyThe New School for Social ResearchNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Howard Steele
- Center for Attachment ResearchDepartment of Clinical PsychologyThe New School for Social ResearchNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Susan Golombok
- Centre for Family ResearchDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
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Scheib JE, Ruby A, Benward J. Who requests their sperm donor's identity? The first ten years of information releases to adults with open-identity donors. Fertil Steril 2016; 107:483-493. [PMID: 27887716 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Revised: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report findings from 10 years of requests from adults eligible to obtain their open-identity sperm donor's information. DESIGN Analysis of archived family and donor data. Semistructured interviews at information releases. SETTING Not applicable. PATIENT(S) A total of 85 DI adults requesting 43 donor identities; program data on 256 DI families. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) We identified [1] demographic predictors of requesting donor identities, [2] information release timing and length, and [3] request motives. RESULT(S) Just >35% of eligible DI adults requested their donor's identity. Adults ranged from 18-27 years, requesting at median age 18 years. More women than men requested. Proportionally fewer adults requested when they had heterosexual-couple parents, and proportionally more when they had one rather than two parents. In interviews, the common theme was wanting to know more about the donor, especially about shared characteristics. Most adults planned to contact their donor. More than 94% of adults had donors who were open to contact; adults expressed modest expectations about this contact. CONCLUSION(S) In 2001, the first adults became eligible to obtain their open-identity sperm donor's information. Ten years of identity requests at one program indicates that information about one's donor is important to a significant proportion of these DI adults. Most requested their donor's identity soon after becoming eligible, suggesting some urgency to wanting the information. Interview data highlighted the role of donor information in helping adults better understand themselves and their ancestry. Findings hold important implications for practice and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna E Scheib
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California; The Sperm Bank of California, Berkeley, California.
| | - Alice Ruby
- The Sperm Bank of California, Berkeley, California
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Gonen LD. Donor insemination: Israel as a representative case of a competitive market examining the possibility of policy reform. J Comp Eff Res 2016; 6:145-164. [PMID: 27854130 DOI: 10.2217/cer-2016-0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To measure the private and social benefits of donor insemination (DI). METHODS An empirical model investigates the general public and DI clients' willingness to pay (WTP) for DI, and the willingness of potential donors to become altruistic or paid sperm donors. RESULTS The general public and DI clients value DI and have a positive WTP for it, whereas willingness to donate, altruistically or for payment, is either low or very low. CONCLUSION The general public's and DI clients' WTP for DI is in average above actual cost, so the government should consider funding or subsidizing DI. The government should encourage altruistic gamete donation through information and education of all parties involved directly and indirectly in the process of donation whose ultimate goal is the birth of a child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limor D Gonen
- Department of Economics & Business Administration, Ariel University, Israel
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38
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Zadeh S. Disclosure of donor conception in the era of non-anonymity: safeguarding and promoting the interests of donor-conceived individuals? Hum Reprod 2016; 31:2416-2420. [PMID: 27698073 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dew240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 08/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This article responds to a debate article published in Human Reproduction earlier this year. In that article, the authors suggested that parents should be encouraged to disclose the use of donor gametes to their children given rapid and widespread advances in genetic testing and sequencing. However, there is an urgent need to engage with the assertion that in this context, telling children about their donor conception both safeguards and promotes their interests, particularly if such disclosure is motivated by parents' anxieties about accidental discovery. Disclosure that is motivated by the notion of non-anonymity may also encourage parents to share misinformation about donors and encourage their children to have unrealistic expectations. Fertility professionals must remain mindful of these outcomes when discussing disclosure and the future implications of increasing access to genetic information with both prospective and current parents. It is strongly advised that future discussions about the end of donor anonymity are not conflated with the debate on disclosure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Zadeh
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge, CB2 3RQ, UK
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Visser M, Mochtar MH, van der Veen F. Open-Identity Sperm Donation: How Does Offering Donor-Identifying Information Relate to Donor-Conceived Offspring's Wishes and Needs? JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY 2016; 13:363-364. [PMID: 27365103 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-016-9730-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marja Visser
- Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands.
| | - Monique H Mochtar
- Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Fulco van der Veen
- Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
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Graham S, Jadva V, Freeman T, Ahuja K, Golombok S. Being an identity-release donor: a qualitative study exploring the motivations, experiences and future expectations of current UK egg donors. HUM FERTIL 2016; 19:230-241. [PMID: 27563721 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2016.1221148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the motivations, experiences and future expectations of identity-release egg donors in the UK following the removal of donor anonymity and the increase in financial compensation for egg donation. This exploratory, in-depth qualitative study comprised semi-structured interviews with 11 women who had attended an egg donation screening appointment at a UK clinic during a four-month period in 2014. Interviews were conducted two to six weeks after the woman had donated or had withdrawn/been rejected from the donation process. Participants' primary motivation for donating was to help infertile women have their 'own child', and the recent increase in financial compensation did not seem to play a significant role in their decision. All were happy to be identifiable and contacted by children born as a result of their donation. However, some were hesitant about providing non-identifying information about themselves for these offspring and wished for further information about the recipient(s) of their eggs and the outcome of their donation. Whilst this study was limited due to the small sample size, it is the first study of UK egg donors following the rise in donor compensation and suggests that other strategies may be more effective in increasing donor numbers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Graham
- a Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Vasanti Jadva
- a Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Tabitha Freeman
- a Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | | | - Susan Golombok
- a Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
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Slutsky J, Jadva V, Freeman T, Persaud S, Steele M, Steele H, Kramer W, Golombok S. Integrating donor conception into identity development: adolescents in fatherless families. Fertil Steril 2016; 106:202-208. [PMID: 27012652 PMCID: PMC4922596 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Objective To study the processes by which donor-conceived children incorporate donor conception into their subjective sense of identity. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Family homes. Patient(s) Nineteen donor-conceived adolescents. Intervention(s) Administration of an interview and questionnaire. Main Outcome Measure(s) The mother-child relationship was assessed through the Friends and Family Interview, a semistructured interview designed to assess adolescents' security of attachment in terms of secure-autonomous, insecure-dismissive, insecure-preoccupied, and insecure-disorganized attachment patterns. The Donor Conception Identity Questionnaire assessed adolescents' thoughts and feelings about donor conception, yielding two factors: [1] curiosity about donor conception and [2] avoidance of donor conception. Result(s) Statistically significant associations were found between the Curiosity scale and the secure-autonomous and insecure-dismissing attachment ratings. Adolescents with secure-autonomous attachment patterns were more interested in exploring donor conception whereas those with insecure-dismissing patterns were less likely to express curiosity. Insecure-disorganized attachment ratings were statistically significantly correlated with the Avoidance scale, indicating higher levels of negative feelings about donor conception. Conclusion(s) The results of this study of the influence of parent-child relationships on thoughts and feelings about donor conception in adolescence suggest that the valence of the parent-child relationship influences adolescents' appraisal of their donor conception within the context of their growing sense of identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Slutsky
- Center for Attachment Research, New School for Social Research, The New School, New York, New York
| | - Vasanti Jadva
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tabitha Freeman
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sherina Persaud
- Center for Attachment Research, New School for Social Research, The New School, New York, New York
| | - Miriam Steele
- Center for Attachment Research, New School for Social Research, The New School, New York, New York
| | - Howard Steele
- Center for Attachment Research, New School for Social Research, The New School, New York, New York
| | | | - Susan Golombok
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Machin R. Anonimato e segredo na reprodução humana com participação de doador: mudanças em perspectivas. SAUDE E SOCIEDADE 2016. [DOI: 10.1590/s0104-12902016149132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Resumo As tecnologias reprodutivas, ao separar a sexuali dade da reprodução, interferiram não somente nas relações entre os sexos, mas também nas relações de filiação, possibilitando o surgimento de configu rações familiares decorrentes do acesso a material genético de terceiros (doadores de óvulos, sêmen ou embrião). O segredo e o anonimato que sempre envolveram os doadores de gametas têm sido desa fiados. Nos últimos vinte anos, diversos países alte raram sua legislação adotando a identidade aberta do doador de material genético. A possibilidade de conhecer e ter acesso a esta identidade (chegando à maioridade) ou mesmo a busca por meios irmãos pode ser uma realidade em muitos países para crianças nascidas por meio do acesso à tecnologia reprodutiva. O artigo enfatiza a questão do segredo e do anonimato envolvendo o uso de material ge nético de terceiros em tecnologias reprodutivas. A discussão é explorada por meio do debate ocorrido no Reino Unido relativo à abolição do anonimato e suas implicações sob a perspectiva dos doadores, dos casais demandantes e da criança concebida. O estudo reflete ainda sobre as concepções de família envolvidas nessa discussão.
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Isaksson S, Skoog-Svanberg A, Sydsjö G, Linell L, Lampic C. It takes two to tango: information-sharing with offspring among heterosexual parents following identity-release sperm donation. Hum Reprod 2015; 31:125-32. [PMID: 26637490 PMCID: PMC4677967 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dev293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION How do heterosexual parents reason about and experience information-sharing with offspring following identity-release sperm donation? SUMMARY ANSWER Sharing information about using donor-conception with offspring is a complex process at several levels, with the parent's personal beliefs and the child's responses serving as driving or impeding forces for the information-sharing process. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The overall view of disclosure in gamete donation has shifted from secrecy to openness, but there is still uncertainty among parents concerning how and when to tell the child about his/her genetic origin. Most research on donor-conceived families has focused on donation treatment under anonymous or known circumstances, and there is a lack of studies in settings with identity-release donations. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A qualitative interview study among 30 parents following identity-release sperm donation treatment. Interviews were conducted from February 2014 to March 2015. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The present study is part of the prospective longitudinal Swedish Study on Gamete Donation (SSGD), including all fertility clinics performing gamete donation in Sweden. A sample of participants in the SSGD, consisting of heterosexual parents with children aged 7–8 years following identity-release sperm donation, participated in individual semi-structured interviews. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The analysis revealed one main theme: information-sharing is a process, with three subthemes; (i) the parent as process manager, (ii) the child as force or friction and (iii) being in the process. The first two subthemes were viewed as being linked together and their content served as driving or impeding forces in the information-sharing process. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The fact that the study was performed within the context of the Swedish legislation on identity-release donation must be taken into consideration as regards transferability to other populations, as this may affect parents' reasoning concerning their information-sharing with the child. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The present findings highlight the role of the donor-conceived child in the information-sharing process and may contribute to develop counselling that increases parents' confidence in handling children's reactions to information about their genetic origin. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Financial support from The Swedish Research Council, The Family Planning Fund in Uppsala and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. There are no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Isaksson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 564, S-751 22 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - A Skoog-Svanberg
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - G Sydsjö
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - L Linell
- Department of Social Work, Karolinska University Hospital, S-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - C Lampic
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 564, S-751 22 Uppsala, Sweden Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Karolinska Institutet, S-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
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Crawshaw M, Daniels K, Adams D, Bourne K, van Hooff J, Kramer W, Pasch L, Thorn P. Emerging models for facilitating contact between people genetically related through donor conception: a preliminary analysis and discussion. REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE & SOCIETY ONLINE 2015; 1:71-80. [PMID: 29911188 PMCID: PMC6001351 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbms.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Previous research indicates interest among some donor-conceived people, donors and recipient parents in having contact. Outcomes of such contact appear largely, but not universally, positive. This paper seeks to understand better the characteristics of associated support services. Information gathered using the authors' direct experiences and professional and personal networks in different parts of the world indicates the emergence of four main groupings: (i) publically funded services outside of treatment centers; (ii) services provided by fertility treatment or gamete bank services; (iii) services provided privately by independent psychosocial or legal practitioners; and (4) services organized by offspring and/or recipient parents. Key operational features examined were: (i) who can access such services and when; (ii) what professional standards and funding are in place to provide them; and (iii) how 'matching' and contact processes are managed. Differences appear influenced variously by the needs of those directly affected, local policies, national legislation and the interests of the fertility services which recruit gamete donors and/or deliver donor conception treatments. The paper is intended to inform fuller debate about how best to meet the needs of those seeking information and contact, the implications for the way that fertility treatment and gametes donation services are currently provided and future research needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn Crawshaw
- Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York, UK
- Corresponding author.
| | - Ken Daniels
- School of Social Work and Human Services, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Damian Adams
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Kate Bourne
- Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Wendy Kramer
- Donor Sibling Registry, Nederland, CO 80466, USA
| | - Lauri Pasch
- Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, University of California San Francisco, USA
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Ravelingien A, Provoost V, Pennings G. Open-Identity Sperm Donation: How Does Offering Donor-Identifying Information Relate to Donor-Conceived Offspring's Wishes and Needs? JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY 2015; 12:503-509. [PMID: 24996630 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-014-9550-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Over the past years, a growing number of countries have legislated open-identity donation, in which donor-conceived offspring are given access to the donor's identity once the child has reached maturity. It is held that donor anonymity creates identity problems for such children similar to the "genealogical bewilderment" described within the adoption context. The study of the social and psychological effects of open-identity donation is still very much in its infancy, but what has been left unquestioned is whether (and to what extent) offering access to the donor's name and address is an adequate response to such effects. This study has two goals: First, we aim to provide a systematic review of the reasons why donor-conceived (DC) offspring want to know the identity of their sperm donor. Second, we examine to what extent the provision of donor-identifying information can satisfy the reasons mentioned. The most important motivations appear to be: (1) to avoid medical risks and consanguineous relationships; (2) to satisfy curiosity; (3) to learn more about the self or to complete one's identity; (4) to learn more about what kind of person the donor is (biographical information, why he donated, etc.); (5) to form a relationship with the donor and/or his family; and (6) to learn about one's ancestry/genealogy. Our analysis shows that for nearly all of these reasons access to the donor's identity is not necessary. In those cases where it is, moreover, donor identification is not sufficient. What is really needed is (extended) contact with the donor, rather than the mere provision of his name.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Ravelingien
- Bioethics Institute Ghent, Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences, Ghent University, Blandijnberg 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Veerle Provoost
- Bioethics Institute Ghent, Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences, Ghent University, Blandijnberg 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Guido Pennings
- Bioethics Institute Ghent, Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences, Ghent University, Blandijnberg 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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Woodward JT. Third-party reproduction in the Internet Age: the new, patient-centered landscape. Fertil Steril 2015; 104:525-30. [PMID: 26070518 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The rise of the Internet Age has brought a host of sweeping changes to the landscape of third-party reproduction. What began as a dyadic relationship between doctor and patient has evolved into a more complex system in which patients are able to access information online from a variety of external sources. Patients often seek to play a more active role in their third-party reproductive care, and the Internet allows them to do so. Further, demand for both medical and psychosocial information about donors and donor-conceived siblings, available online through patient forums and genetic registries, has altered the perception of gamete donation from a one-time event to an ongoing relationship. The advantages and disadvantages for patients and providers of this freer flow of information between third-party participants are examined. Search motivations of recipients and offspring, as well as types of information sought, are detailed. Recommendations are made regarding strategies fertility programs can use to optimally support their patients and navigate this new landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia T Woodward
- Psychological Services Program, Duke Fertility Center, Durham, North Carolina; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
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Freeman T. Gamete donation, information sharing and the best interests of the child: an overview of the psychosocial evidence. Monash Bioeth Rev 2015; 33:45-63. [PMID: 25743051 PMCID: PMC4900443 DOI: 10.1007/s40592-015-0018-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
This paper overviews key empirical findings from social science research regarding the impact of gamete donation on child wellbeing. In particular, the paper addresses current regulatory debates concerning information sharing and the best interests of the child by considering psychosocial aspects of telling--or not telling--children about their donor conception and the identity of their donor. The paper identifies three core sets of empirical, ethical and policy concerns underpinning these debates relating to (i) the psychosocial impact of gamete donation per se on child wellbeing, (ii) the psychosocial impact of parental disclosure decisions on child wellbeing, and (iii) the psychosocial implications of donor identification for donor-conceived offspring. The paper illustrates how these concerns are framed by ideas about the significance-or not-of 'genetic relatedness'; ideas which have come to the fore in contemporary discussions about the potential consequences of donor-conceived individuals gaining access to their donor's identity. By drawing together research findings that may be pertinent to the regulation of gamete donation and information sharing, a further aim of this paper is to explore the potential use and misuse of empirical 'evidence' in ethical and policy debates. Whilst this paper starts from the premise that psychosocial data has a vital role in grounding normative discussions, it seeks to contribute to this dialogue by highlighting both the value and limitations of social science research. In particular, the paper argues for a cautious approach to applying psychosocial evidence to ethical issues that is sensitive to the caveats and nuances of research findings and the changing cultural and regulatory context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabitha Freeman
- Centre for Family Research, Free School Lane, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3RF, UK,
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Janssens PMW, Thorn P, Castilla JA, Frith L, Crawshaw M, Mochtar M, Bjorndahl L, Kvist U, Kirkman-Brown JC. Evolving minimum standards in responsible international sperm donor offspring quota. Reprod Biomed Online 2015; 30:568-80. [PMID: 25817048 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2014] [Revised: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
An international working group was established with the aim of making recommendations on the number of offspring for a sperm donor that should be allowable in cases of international use of his sperm. Considerations from genetic, psychosocial, operational and ethical points of view were debated. For these considerations, it was assumed that current developments in genetic testing and Internet possibilities mean that, now, all donors are potentially identifiable by their offspring, so no distinction was made between anonymous and non-anonymous donation. Genetic considerations did not lead to restrictive limits (indicating that up to 200 offspring or more per donor may be acceptable except in isolated social-minority situations). Psychosocial considerations on the other hand led to proposals of rather restrictive limits (10 families per donor or less). Operational and ethical considerations did not lead to more or less concrete limits per donor, but seemed to lie in-between those resulting from the aforementioned ways of viewing the issue. In the end, no unifying agreed figure could be reached; however the consensus was that the number should never exceed 100 families. The conclusions of the group are summarized in three recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pim M W Janssens
- Chairman of the Working Group, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Semen Bank, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
| | - Petra Thorn
- Praxis für Paar-und Familientherapie, Mörfelden, Germany
| | - Jose A Castilla
- U. Reproducción, UGC de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain; Clinica MasVida Reproducción, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Lucy Frith
- Department of Health Services Research, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Marilyn Crawshaw
- Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York and Independent Researcher, York, UK
| | - Monique Mochtar
- Centrum voor Voortplantingsgeneeskunde, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lars Bjorndahl
- Centre for Andrology and Sexual Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrik Kvist
- Department of Physiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jackson C Kirkman-Brown
- Centre for Human Reproductive Science (ChRS), Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Abstract
Searching and finding supposedly anonymous sperm donors or half-siblings by diverting direct-to-consumer genetic testing is a novel phenomenon. I refer to such new forms of kinship as 'wayward relations,' because they are often officially unintended and do not correspond to established kinship roles. Drawing on data mostly from the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States, I argue that wayward relations are a highly contemporary means of asserting agency in a technological world characterized by tensions over knowledge acquisition. I make the case that such relations reaffirm the genetic grounding of kinship, but do not displace other ways of relating--they are complementary not colonizing. Wayward relations challenge the gate-keeper status of fertility clinics and regulators over genetic knowledge and classical notions of privacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maren Klotz
- a Department of European Ethnology , Humboldt University , Berlin , Germany
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