Anonymity, disclosure, and contact with donors: how experiences of donor-conceived offspring vary by family type

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To test the relationship between family type (two-parent vs. single parent) and offsprings' response to donor conception and desire to connect with donor, controlling for parents' sexual orientation. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of survey data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were gathered in two electronic surveys conducted by the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR), a non-profit website established to help donor offspring and their parents connect with donors. Respondents include 473 offspring of heterosexual parents and 286 offspring of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender parents (LGBT) ranging from age 9 to over 40. Surveys were conducted between October 2009 and January 2010. Data were analyzed using cross tabs with Chi-square tests of significance. RESULTS: Offspring of single heterosexual parents and LGBT parents (both single and partnered) learned that they were donor conceived at an earlier age than those with heterosexual parents (p=.000). The vast majority (85.2%) of offspring were conceived with sperm from anonymous donors. Family type was not significantly related to donor type but parents sexual orientation was related (p=.000). LGBT families are more likely to use a willing-to-be-known donor. Over 80% of respondents in single-parent families (heterosexual & LGBT) and dual-parent LGBT families were comfortable expressing curiosity about the donor to parents compared to 55% of offspring of dual-parent heterosexual parents (p=.000). Eighty-three percent of respondents who reported that they had no contact with their donor indicated that they want to have contact someday. Parents' sexual orientation was not related to wanting contact, but family type was weakly associated (p=.04). CONCLUSION: Offspring of single heterosexual parents and LGBT parents learn about the method of their conception at an earlier age and are more comfortable expressing curiosity about the donor with their parents than offspring of heterosexual parents.