A survey of 1700 women who formed their families using donor spermatozoa

Abstract

This paper reports the results of an online survey of 1700 recipients of donor spermatozoa conducted by the Donor Sibling Registry, aiming to understand the perspectives of respondents who had used donor spermatozoa. The survey examined: choice of sperm bank and donor; reporting of births and genetic disorders; disclosure; contact with donor and half-siblings; regulation of sperm donor activity and genetic testing; and access to medical information. The respondents formed three groups: single women; women in a same-sex relationship; and women in a heterosexual relationship. Some differences between the three cohorts were observed: preinsemination counselling; acceptance of donors without medical records or with chronic or late-onset diseases; awareness of choice of bank and type of donor; and views on the right of offspring to know their genetic origins. However, important areas of common ground were identified: the wish by those who had used an anonymous donor that they had used an open-identity donor; support for, and willingness to pay for, comprehensive genetic testing of donors; and desire for access to their donor's family health information. The implications of these results for policies concerning the use and management of donor spermatozoa will be discussed.

‘It's a bit too much fathering this seed’: the meaning-making of the sperm donor in Italian lesbian mother families

“…The donor's 'nonexistence' and 'medical objectification' were replaced by gratitude and esteem, as well as curiosity about his physical resemblance. This was when mothers were more likely to experience the 'donor as a kind man', hinting to his altruistic motivation (Ravelingien et al, 2014;Sawyer et al, 2013;Zadeh et al, 2016), and prepare themselves for the future offspring's wishes for ancestral connection and need to know 'the other side of their own biology' (Eva, biological mother, open-identity donation). It is like they put aside their fears and uncertainties and took into account the meaning to their child of being a donor's offspring.…”

Attitudes of sperm, egg and embryo donors and recipients towards genetic information and screening of donors

“…There is little information about the attitudes of gamete and embryo donors and recipients towards donor genetic screening. A recent on-line survey of women who had used donor sperm found support for the implementation of more comprehensive genetic screening of donors [ 15 ]; however there are also concerns amongst health professionals about the effectiveness of expanded genetic screening protocols and the need to treat donors as ‘interested stakeholders, not merely as providers of genetic material’ [ 2 ]. In this research we aimed to explore the experiences and attitudes of gamete and embryo donors and recipients towards current donor genetic screening practices and towards potential future expanded donor genetic screening.…”

Recipients' views on payment of sperm donors

“…They found that, although most of the general public preferred donors not to be paid (58%), 52% of the potential recipients were in favour. A more recent study by Sawyer et al (2013) questioned 1700 female recipients of donor sperm (including singles, lesbian and heterosexual mothers). Of the 1528 respondents to this particular question, 81% was explicitly pro-payment.…”