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Indekeu A, Prinsen CFM, Maas AJBM. Lessons from 10 years' experience running the Fiom KID-DNA database, a voluntary DNA-linking register for donor-conceived people and donors in The Netherlands. HUM FERTIL 2023; 26:1164-1172. [PMID: 36373241 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2022.2144772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide, there is increasing acknowledgment of the importance of getting access to ancestry information. More and more countries facilitate access to this information through law changes and voluntary contact-services. In the Netherlands, the state-funded Fiom KID-DNA database was established in 2010 to facilitate information and/or contact exchange between those people who are genetically related as a result of donor-assisted conception. By the end of 2021, 846 donors and 2355 donor-conceived people are registered in the database. For 25% of the donors a link was found with one or more donor-conceived people, and 39% of the donor-conceived people were linked to a donor-profile. Fiom offers support by professionally qualified staff throughout the entire process from registration to contact to donor-conceived people, donors and their relatives. During the period of more than 10 years several challenges emerged; how does a state-funded DNA database function in the area of commercial DNA databases?; what can be learned from the continuous growing donor-conceived half-siblings networks?; how to deal with malpractices from the past and how to cope with ageing donors?
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clemens F M Prinsen
- Departments of Pathology and Clinical Chemistry, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Clinical Chemistry, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Siermann M, Visser M, Schrijvers A, Mochtar M, Gerrits T. 'Doing' kinship: heterosexual parents' experiences of non-genetic parenthood through donor conception. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 46:210-218. [PMID: 36270931 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.09.006] [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: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION How do Dutch heterosexual parents who achieved parenthood through donor conception navigate non-genetic parenthood and kinship? DESIGN A qualitative in-depth semi-structured interview study was performed between September 2018 and January 2019 with both partners of 13 Dutch heterosexual couples where the male partner suffered from infertility and who conceived a child with the help of a sperm donor. Interview questions were based on literature and clinical experiences of experts in the field of donor conception. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS All parents navigated non-genetic parenthood through 'doing' kinship: they negotiated the importance of nature versus nurture with regards to donor conception and non-genetic parenthood. Most parents perceived genetics as irrelevant for experiencing parenthood, bonding with their children and the preferred role of the donor in their future lives. Yet most of them found genetics relevant for generating similarities between the father and the child, and for wanting the same donor for all their children to ensure a full genetic relation among them. Additionally, based on the donor's genetic bond with the child, some men were anxious about the donor's role in the child's future life and the consequences for their position as a non-genetic father. A few women perceived genetics as relevant in terms of possible inherited illnesses from the donor. CONCLUSIONS Parents experienced several ambiguities regarding the role of genetics in donor conception and navigated 'doing' kinship in various ways. These aspects need to be taken into consideration during the counselling of prospective parents planning to conceive with donor conception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Siermann
- Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Present address: Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Marja Visser
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Schrijvers
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Monique Mochtar
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Trudie Gerrits
- Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Pinto da Silva S, de Freitas C, Silva S. Medical ethics when moving towards non-anonymous gamete donation: the views of donors and recipients. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2022; 48:616-623. [PMID: 34172523 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2020-106947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Drawing on the views of donors and recipients about anonymity in a country that is experiencing a transition towards non-anonymous gamete donation mandated by the Constitutional Court, we explore how the intersection between rights-based approaches and an empirical framework enhances recommendations for ethical policy and healthcare. Between July 2017 and April 2018, 69 donors and 147 recipients, recruited at the Portuguese Public Bank of Gametes, participated in this cross-sectional study. Position towards anonymity was assessed through an open-ended question in a self-report questionnaire, which was subject to content analysis. Preference for an anonymous donation regime was mentioned by 82.6% of donors and 89.8% of recipients; and all those with children. Instead of the rights-based reasoning used by the Constitutional Court, donors highlighted concerns over future relationships and recipients focused on socioethical values linked with the safeguard of safety, privacy and confidentiality. The remaining participants advocated the choice between anonymity or non-anonymity (double-track policy), invoking respect for their autonomy. The complex, diverse ethical views and reasoning of donors and recipients expand a traditionally dichotomous discussion. Their perspectives challenge the transition towards non-anonymity and international guidelines, raising awareness to the need for their involvement in the design of policies to enable choice according to their values and preferences, and of psychosocial counselling responsive to their socioethical concerns and sensitive to their parental status. Empirical frameworks complement rights-based approaches to uphold justice, fairness and equal respect, and to incorporate utility, beneficence and non-maleficence in policymaking and healthcare in the transition towards non-anonymity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pinto da Silva
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia de Freitas
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Susana Silva
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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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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Akatsuka K, Hatta T, Sawai T, Fujita M. Public attitudes in Japan toward the reproductive use of gametes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. Future Sci OA 2021; 7:FSO754. [PMID: 34840811 PMCID: PMC8609981 DOI: 10.2144/fsoa-2021-0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the interests of the Japanese general public in the reproductive use of in vitro derived (IVD)-gametes. METHODS We conducted an online survey and obtained answers from 3096 respondents. RESULTS More than half of the respondents agreed with the reproductive use of IVD-gametes by infertile heterosexual married couples but disagreed with the same use by unmarried or homosexual individuals. Nearly 70.0% disagreed with the use for designing a baby. DISCUSSION In Japan at present, the use of IVD-gametes that deviate from societal values regarding reproduction and family prescribed by the conventional marriage system is unlikely to be accepted. It is also unlikely to be accepted for non-treatment purposes in reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoko Akatsuka
- Uehiro Research Division for iPS Cell Ethics, Center for iPS Cell Research & Application, Kyoto University, Japan, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Taichi Hatta
- Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, Japan, 4-27-2 Kita Ando, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka 420-0881, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Sawai
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), KUIAS Kyoto University, Japan, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Misao Fujita
- Uehiro Research Division for iPS Cell Ethics, Center for iPS Cell Research & Application, Kyoto University, Japan, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), KUIAS Kyoto University, Japan, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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Mikkelsen C, Mori G, van Walraven SM, Castrén J, Zahra S, MacLennan S, Seidel K, Fontana S, Veropalumbo E, Cannata L, Pupella S, Kvist M, Happel M, Korkalainen P, Wulff B, Fernandez-Sojo J, Eguizabal C, Urbano F, Vesga MA, Pozenel P, van Kraaij M, Hansen MB, Slot E, Ullum H. Putting the spotlight on donation-related risks and donor safety - are we succeeding in protecting donors? Vox Sang 2020; 116:313-323. [PMID: 33103801 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The European consortium project TRANSPOSE (TRANSfusion and transplantation: PrOtection and SElection of donors) aimed to assess and evaluate the risks to donors of Substances of Human Origin (SoHO), and to identify gaps between current donor vigilance systems and perceived risks. MATERIALS AND METHODS National and local data from participating organizations on serious and non-serious adverse reactions in donors were collected from 2014 to 2017. Following this, a survey was performed among participants to identify risks not included in the data sets. Finally, participants rated the risks according to severity, level of evidence and prevalence. RESULTS Significant discrepancies between anticipated donor risks and the collected data were found. Furthermore, many participants reported that national data on adverse reactions in donors of stem cells, gametes, embryos and tissues were not routinely collected and/or available. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that there is a need to further develop and standardize donor vigilance in Europe and to include long-term risks to donors, which are currently underreported, ensuring donor health and securing the future supply of SoHO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Mikkelsen
- Department of Clinical immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Kobenhavn, Denmark
| | - Gaia Mori
- Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Sharon Zahra
- Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | | | | | - Stefano Fontana
- Interregional Blood Transfusion Service SRC, Berne and University of Lausanne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Eva Veropalumbo
- Centro Nazionale Sangue and Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy
| | - Livia Cannata
- Centro Nazionale Sangue and Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy
| | | | - Maria Kvist
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marjan Happel
- TRIP Hemovigilance and Biovigilance Office, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Birgit Wulff
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Cristina Eguizabal
- Bioef-Fundacion Vasca de Innovacion e Investigation Sanitarias-Osakidetza-Centro Vasco de Transfusión y Tejidos Humanos, Galdakao, Spain
| | - Fernando Urbano
- Bioef-Fundacion Vasca de Innovacion e Investigation Sanitarias-Osakidetza-Centro Vasco de Transfusión y Tejidos Humanos, Galdakao, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Vesga
- Bioef-Fundacion Vasca de Innovacion e Investigation Sanitarias-Osakidetza-Centro Vasco de Transfusión y Tejidos Humanos, Galdakao, Spain
| | - Primoz Pozenel
- Blood transfusion Center of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Morten Bagge Hansen
- Department of Clinical immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Kobenhavn, Denmark
| | - Ed Slot
- Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henrik Ullum
- Department of Clinical immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Kobenhavn, Denmark
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Skoog Svanberg A, Sydsjö G, Lampic C. Psychosocial aspects of identity-release gamete donation - perspectives of donors, recipients, and offspring. Ups J Med Sci 2020; 125:175-182. [PMID: 31802698 PMCID: PMC7720987 DOI: 10.1080/03009734.2019.1696431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Donor conception creates families with varying genetic linkage between family members. This may have short-term as well as lifelong psychosocial consequences for all involved. Gamete donors have traditionally been anonymous to recipients and offspring, but there is a growing trend towards identity-release donor programmes that give offspring the right to obtain the donor's identity. This review aims to provide an overview of the perspectives of donors and recipients and offspring involved in identity-release donation. The results show that both oocyte and sperm donors have primarily altruistic motives, and recipients, in particular lesbian and single women, are generally open about the donation to their offspring. The few existing studies on offspring perspectives indicate that those who are aware of their donor conception appear to be interested in contact with the donor, and most donors are open to such contact. Investigations of donors and recipients indicate a need for more counselling and support to manage family life with varying genetic linkage within and outside the family unit. This includes preparing for and managing future contact between the donor and his/her family and donor offspring and their family, as well as between donor siblings and their respective families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agneta Skoog Svanberg
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- CONTACT Agneta Skoog Svanberg Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 05, Sweden
| | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Claudia Lampic
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Isaksson S, Sydsjö G, Skoog Svanberg A, Lampic C. Managing absence and presence of child-parent resemblance: a challenge for heterosexual couples following sperm donation. REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE & SOCIETY ONLINE 2019; 8:38-46. [PMID: 31453387 PMCID: PMC6702384 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbms.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
This qualitative interview study sought to gather and better understand heterosexual parents' experiences of managing resemblance and non-resemblance between child and parent in an identity-release donor programme. The 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 30 heterosexual parents with children aged 7-8 years following identity-release sperm donation, participated in individual semi-structured interviews. This study concerns a secondary analysis of the interview data. The results show how donor-conceiving parents experience the presence and absence of child-parent resemblance, and how they navigate between the importance of genetic connectedness and of 'doing parenthood' through social interactions. The analysis resulted in three categories: 'resemblance through nature or nurture', 'non-resemblance brings the donor to the front' and 'feelings about and coping with resemblance talk'. The first two categories deal with the intrapersonal aspects of physical and non-physical resemblance, while the last category includes aspects of resemblance in relation to persons outside the core family. The presence or absence of parent-child resemblance regarding both physical and non-physical characteristics appears to constitute a considerable challenge for heterosexual couples with school-aged children following sperm donation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina Isaksson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Södra Älvsborg Hospital, Department of Research, Borås, Sweden
- Corresponding author.
| | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Claudia Lampic
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Bolt S, Postema D, van der Heij A, B M Maas AJ. Anonymous Dutch sperm donors releasing their identity. HUM FERTIL 2019; 24:24-30. [PMID: 30652500 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2018.1564156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the motivations of anonymous Dutch sperm donors to release their identity. It aimed to increase knowledge and encourage donors to become identifiable through a more informed decision, allowing more donor-conceived persons to contact their donors. Since 2010, anonymous sperm donors in the Netherlands can register in the Fiom KID-DNA Database developed by Fiom and Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ). An online survey was sent to donors who registered in the database (May 2015-August 2017). A total of 179 male respondents participated in this study. The motives of most donors to register in the database were child-oriented: donors believe that their offspring are entitled to their physical and social details and/or they want to give their offspring the chance to contact them. Other motives are donor-oriented, such as the curiosity about the number of offspring, their well-being and the desire to establish contact. This research showed that, to encourage anonymous donors to release their identity, one should focus on providing information about the existence of DNA databases. As well as increasing the donor's awareness of problems donor-conceived persons can experience by the lack of knowledge about their descent, answering questions and concerns from donors, and exploring the curiosity about their offspring.
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Blyth E, Crawshaw M, Frith L, van den Akker O. Gamete donors' reasons for, and expectations and experiences of, registration with a voluntary donor linking register. HUM FERTIL 2017. [PMID: 28635412 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2017.1292005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This paper reports on a study of the views and experiences of 21 sperm donors and five egg donors registered with UK DonorLink (UKDL), a voluntary DNA-based contact register established to facilitate contact between adults who wish to identify and locate others to whom they are genetically related following donor conception. Specifically, the paper examines donors' reasons for searching for, or making information about themselves available to donor-conceived offspring. Their expectations of registration with UKDL, experiences of being registered and finally, the experiences of those who had contacted donor-conceived offspring and other genetic relatives are investigated. While most respondents reported largely positive experiences of registration, the study found significant issues relating to concerns about donation, DNA testing, possible linking with offspring and expectations of any relationship that might be established with offspring that have implications for support, mediation and counselling. Research that puts the experiences, perceptions and interests of gamete donors as the central focus of study is a relatively recent phenomenon. This study contributes to this debate and highlights directions for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Blyth
- a School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield , UK
| | - Marilyn Crawshaw
- b Department of Social Policy and Social Work , University of York , York , UK
| | - Lucy Frith
- c Department of Health Services Research , University of Liverpool , Liverpool , UK
| | - Olga van den Akker
- d Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology , Middlesex University , London , UK
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