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Chapter 7 - The Experiences of Donor-Conceived People Making Contact with Same-Donor Offspring through Fiom’s Group Meetings

from Part II - Children’s and Adults’ Lived Experiences in Diverse Donor-Linked Families

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2023

By
Astrid Indekeu  and
A. Janneke B. M. Maas
Edited by
Fiona Kelly ,
Deborah Dempsey  and
Adrienne Byrt
Fiona Kelly
Affiliation:
La Trobe University, Victoria
Deborah Dempsey
Affiliation:
Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria
Adrienne Byrt
Affiliation:
Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria
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Summary

More and more donor-conceived people are interested in, and in contact with, same-donor offspring. Moreover, donor-conceived people can find large numbers of same-donor offspring, enabled by more openness regarding donor conception, social media, donor registers and (online) DNA testing. The impact of meeting large numbers of same-donor offspring has not yet been explored. At Fiom, a Dutch organisation providing independent support in the search for biographical information, we conducted a qualitative study interviewing 19 donor-conceived people who participated in same-donor offspring group meetings. Data showed that while relationships between same-donor offspring are commonly experienced as more beneficial than connecting with the donor, they also come with challenges such as how to integrate these new relations into their lives, how to manage group dynamics and a continuously growing network. Data revealed a need for counselling tailored to the context of multiple same-donor offspring contact. Lastly, challenges for regulators are discussed.

Keywords

multiple same-donor offspringcontactsupportregulation
Type
Chapter
Information
Donor-Linked Families in the Digital Age
Relatedness and Regulation
 , pp. 120 - 137
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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References

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