P-495 Are open-identity oocyte and sperm donors ready for the release of their identity to offspring conceived with their gametes? Follow-up 14-17 years post-donation
Authors: Lampic C , Bladh M , Skoog Svanberg A , Sydsjö G 
Published: July 2024

Study question

What attitudes and needs do open-identity oocyte and sperm donors have regarding potential future contact with adult offspring from their donation?

Summary answer

Most oocyte and sperm donors had positive attitudes towards being contacted by offspring and wanted some guidance, but one in ten was negative towards contact.

What is known already

The number of donor-conceived persons (DCPs) requesting identifying information about their donor is expected to rise as large groups conceived with gametes from open-identity donors are reaching adulthood. Men and women donating within open-identity programs must accept that their identity may be released to offspring from their donation, but they have no obligation to engage in any contact. In Sweden, donors can contact the clinic to obtain information about the number of offspring from their donation, but no There is limited knowledge about open-identity donors’ attitudes about potential contact with DCPs and their need for guidance about handling such contacts.

Study design, size, duration

The present study is part of the prospective longitudinal Swedish Study on Gamete Donation and concerns the fifth wave of data collection conducted in 2021-2022, which included 215 donors (87% response). Following exclusion of known/directed donors (n = 22) and those who stated knowing that their donation had not resulted in a child (n = 24) the present study sample included 100 oocyte donors and 91 sperm donors.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The Swedish Study on Gamete Donation used consecutive recruitment of new donors at all fertility clinics providing gamete donation during a three-year period (2005-2008). Participants were requested to complete postal surveys at five time points. The present study concerns data collected 14-17 years post-donation and includes study-specific items on donors’ attitudes and needs regarding potential future contact with DCPs. Data analysis with Pearson’s chi-square statistic and multinominal logistic regression.

Main results and the role of chance

At 14-17 years post-donation, most of the 100 oocyte and 91 sperm donors were living with a partner (65%) and had children of their own (77%). Among participants, about half had obtained information from the clinic that their donation had resulted in child(ren) and remaining donors had no information about the results of their donation. Most donors had positive attitudes towards being approached by offspring from their donation (71%) while remaining were neutral (19%) or negative (10%). Donors who were ignorant about any donor offspring were three times more likely to be negative towards contact compared to being positive (OR 3.26; CI 1.05-10.11), when controlling for sociodemographic variables.

The majority of donors wanted to receive guidance on how to handle potential future contact with DCPs (59%), and this wish was not significantly related to their gender, educational level or presence of own children. The vast majority of donors wanted to be notified by the clinic when a DCP requests identifying information about them (93%). Furthermore, most donors supported that clinic staff enquires about their stance towards contact with DCPs and would like to convey that they are open to contact (80%).

Limitations, reasons for caution

The present study concerns a national cohort of women and men who donated oocytes and sperm in the context of the Swedish legislation mandating open-identity donation, which limits the generalizability of our findings to other groups and contexts.

Wider implications of the findings

A few years before potential release of their identity, most oocyte and sperm donors are positive towards being contacted by offspring from their donation, but many want guidance regarding handling such contacts. Open-identity donors should have access to information and counselling in preparation of potential contact with DCPs.

Trial registration number

not applicable