O-224 “There might be two hundreds of us” - a qualitative study on the experience of meeting large numbers of same donor offspring
Authors: Zeghiche S , Côté I , Lépine M  R 
Published: July 2024

Study question

What are the experiences of donor-conceived people who discover large numbers (over 20) of same donor offspring, from a personal and relational point of view?

Summary answer

Participants reported feeling shocked by the number of donor-siblings. It led them to redefine their identity and their relations with their donor-siblings and the donor.

What is known already

The experience of discovering and meeting donor-siblings has been recently well documented. Yet, very little is known about how the size of the donor sibling group impacts this experience. A few studies have addressed the need to limit the number of offspring per donor. There is no consensus on what this limit should be and the regulations in that regard vary across countries. Although fears of incestuous relationships are still prevalent, policy discussions tend to focus mainly on the negative psychosocial impacts of discovering a large donor sibling group, however, no empirical evidence has allowed to support this concern.

Study design, size, duration

We conducted an exploratory study using a qualitative research design. Data collection was conducted in the Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 using a purposive sampling method. No geographical limitations were set for the data collection.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The inclusion criteria for the recruitment of participants were: 1) donor-conceived adults aged 18 or over; 2) French or English-speaking; 3) with 20 or more donor-siblings. Data collection was carried out through online in-depth interviews. In total, 22 people took part in the study (16 women, 7 men and 1 non-binary person). They were aged between 21 and 76. Eight came from the US, 7 from the UK, 5 from Canada, and 2 from Germany.

Main results and the role of chance

The discovery of a large donor-sibling group provoked feelings of shock and surprise, combined with curiosity. Indeed, many participants mentioned that they had been disconcerted by this discovery, which often coincided with the disclosure of their mode of conception.

Although the connections formed with their donor-siblings were generally described as enriching, their number was seen as an infringement of their singularity and individuality. The idea of having been “mass conceived” generated a certain unease, sometimes even a feeling of repulsion.

Furthermore, the size of the group was often perceived either as a hindrance to the formation of meaningful bonds with donor-siblings, or as a burden. While some regretted not being able to know all their donor-siblings and mourned those impossible ties, others felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of exchanges, obligations, and unpredictable events their number entailed.

Finally, a large donor-sibling group was seen by some as a potential obstacle to their relationship with the donor. For some, the fact that the donor donated his sperm on such a large scale questioned his integrity and motivations and depicted him in an unfavourable light. For others, being so numerous competing for his attention minimised their chances of establishing contact with him.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Despite the innovative nature of the study, the size of the sample and the variability of the experiences do not allow for definitive conclusions to be drawn and limit the understanding that can be gained from it. Further research should examine for example the context of online sperm donation.

Wider implications of the findings

With the democratization of direct-to-consumer DNA testing, more and more contacts between donor-siblings will occur. It is therefore important to examine how this phenomenon unfolds more specifically in the context of large donor-sibling groups. This will inform policy discussions on the need to limit the number of offspring per donor.

Trial registration number

Not applicable