Despite growing discussion of the potential benefits of openness in relation to children conceived by donated gametes, the majority of parents do not intend to tell a future child about his/her origins. As a result little is actually known about the experiences and concerns of families who do choose openness. This is a descriptive study of 83 DI Network members who did intend to or had told a child conceived, using donor insemination, about his/her origins. Quantitative and qualitative data focused on their concerns and experiences of telling. Health professionals face the challenge of providing the opportunity for discussion of these issues both before treatment and afterwards during childhood.

Despite growing discussion of the potential benefits of openness in relation to children conceived by donated gametes, the majority of parents do not intend to tell a future child about his/her origins. As a result little is actually known about the experiences and concerns of families who do choose openness. This is a descriptive study of 83 DI Network members who did intend to or had told a child conceived, using donor insemination, about his/her origins. Quantitative and qualitative data focused on their concerns and experiences of telling. Health professionals face the challenge of providing the opportunity for discussion of these issues both before treatment and afterwards during childhood.

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This study explored the concerns and experience of men and women undergoing donor insemination (DI) treatment: levels of distress, mood, adjustment to infertility (Fertility Adjustment Scale: FAS), and intention to tell any potential child were examined. Two samples were included, a DI clinic in a London teaching hospital and the DI support group, the DC Network (the Donor Conception Network). Clinically significant levels of anxiety (HADS), high levels of distress and high scores on the FAS were reported by both men and women in the samples, suggesting that fertility problems and DI treatment are experienced as challenging. Achieving a pregnancy was the main concern expressed, but concerns about the donor and telling the child were also reported. Those who did not plan to tell their child reported higher levels of concern about telling, and higher levels of distress than those who planned to tell. Interest was expressed in accessing further counselling throughout treatment, and the difficulties in terms of the secrecy surrounding DI are discussed.