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Adolescents Conceived through Donor Insemination in Mother-Headed Families: A Qualitative Study of Motivations and Experiences of Contacting and Meeting Same-donor Offspring.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Change log

Authors

Freeman, Tabitha 
Jadva, Vasanti 
Slutsky, Jenna 
Kramer, Wendy 

Abstract

This study interviewed adolescents conceived using sperm donation to examine their experiences of contacting and meeting 'same-donor offspring' (i.e. donor-conceived offspring raised in different families who share the same donor), their motivations for this contact, and how they make meaning of these relationships. This in-depth qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 23 young people aged 12-19 years (mean = 14 years). Interviewees were motivated by curiosity about their biological relations and by wanting to extend their family. Contact with same-donor offspring was described as being either normal/neutral or as a unique experience that was integrated into their identity. This study highlights the importance of contact between same donor offspring, particularly during adolescence, a developmental stage associated with identity formation. The findings have important policy implications as they suggest that donor-conceived individuals may benefit from contact with others conceived using the same donor prior to the age of 18 years.

Description

Keywords

donor conception, donor insemination, donor siblings, same‐donor offspring, sperm donation

Journal Title

Child Soc

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0951-0605
1099-0860

Volume Title

31

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (097857/Z/11/Z)
This research was supported by the Wellcome Trust [097857/Z/11/Z].