Preferences and needs regarding future contact with donation offspring among identity-release gamete donors: results from the Swedish Study on Gamete Donation

Abstract

Several years after donation, a majority of identity-release oocyte and sperm donors show positive attitudes toward future contact with their offspring. Donors appear to have different preferences for information and support regarding such contact. Fertility clinics and health-care services should provide counseling regarding contact with an offspring to the donors who express a need for this.

Psychosocial aspects of identity-release gamete donation – perspectives of donors, recipients, and offspring

“…This finding was confirmed in a large follow-up study of sperm donors and oocyte donors 5-8 years post-donation (23,24). Ten percent of donors were negative towards being contacted by an offspring, and some comments indicate that this was based on a desire that the child would feel no need for contact and be 'happy in their real family' (24). Among oocyte donors in Finland, a majority stated that they were positive or neutral towards future contact with an offspring, but they were more uncertain regarding potential contact between their own children and a donor offspring (21).…”

“…In two Swedish qualitative studies, each including 30 sperm donors, most of them were positive or neutral towards contact with adult offspring from their donation (10,20). This finding was confirmed in a large follow-up study of sperm donors and oocyte donors 5-8 years post-donation (23,24). Ten percent of donors were negative towards being contacted by an offspring, and some comments indicate that this was based on a desire that the child would feel no need for contact and be 'happy in their real family' (24).…”

“…Identity-release oocyte and sperm donors were found to be mature and well-adjusted individuals (18,19), which is reassuring and indicates that the screening procedures are well-functioning. The studies that have investigated long-term consequences of donating in an identity-release donor programme indicate that most donors were satisfied with their decision (11,13) and had positive or neutral attitudes towards being contacted by offspring from their donation (21,23,24). However, subgroups of donors expressed a need for support and counselling, both to handle their own situation and to prepare for a potential situation when an offspring seeks contact (or not) (24,28).…”

“…In a qualitative study from the Netherlands, male donors expressed a need for counselling in order to discuss the emotional consequences of their donation, disclosure to their own children, family, and friends, and potential future contact with an offspring (28). In a Swedish follow-up study of 210 oocyte and sperm donors several years following donating, one in four donors reported a need for counselling about how to manage potential future contact with offspring from their donation (24). More than half of these donors wanted to be notified when an offspring requested information about them in order to prepare for potential contact, while one-third were negative to receiving such information, partly to avoid potential disappointment if no contact attempts would follow.…”

Ethical reasons for the regulation of gametes’ donation and co-parenting

“…133-148. 3 Федеральный закон от 21.11.2011 № 323-ФЗ «Об основах охраны здоровья граждан в Российской Федерации» // URL: http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_121895/. 4 Benagiano G., Filippi V., Sgargi S., Gianaroli L. Italian Constitutional Court removes the prohibition on gamete donation in Italy // Reproductive BioMedicine Online.…”