What Does
Donor Conceived Person Mean?
A donor-conceived person is a person who was conceived with a donor egg and/or sperm, or embryo. There are a number of types of donors through which conception of a donor-conceived person could have occurred. These include altruistic donors, anonymous donors, egg share donors, known donors, and private donors.
Donor conceived people may or may not have knowledge about their biological parent(s). This information is typically not recorded on a birth certificate but can be obtained through DNA testing.
FertilitySmarts Explains Donor Conceived Person
Donor-conceived people are conceived with assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This includes technologies such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and through the transfer of cryopreserved embryos.
Donor-conceived people may wish to find out information about their unknown biological parent(s). They can find information on genetic donors and/or siblings via a number of methods. These include:
- Registries, which are often used to locate genetic half-siblings from the same sperm and/or egg donor
- Sperm banks or clinics which may offer non-anonymous donors
- DNA testing, which has led to an increase in donor-conceived people finding their genetic siblings and donors in recent years.
The desire for a donor-conceived person may not be limited to psychological or social needs. They may also be interested to find out more about their donor(s) on a medical basis. Gaining an understanding of a donor's medical history and genetic information can help a donor-conceived person with an early diagnosis of disease, and with lifestyle choices to help prevent the onset of disease.
Disclosure of the use of donor gametes or embryo to a donor-conceived person is strongly encouraged by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.