Survey suggests most NZ donor-conceived children are told about origins

Four out of five parents informed their donor-conceived children of their origins, according to New Zealand survey.

Under New Zealand's 2004 Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, people conceived using donor sperm, eggs and embryos have a right to know their genetic origins when they turn 18 (see BioNews 323). The Act established a register which records the details and identity of all donors used to conceive people born from 2006 onwards, and the first of these are now reaching adulthood and able to access this information. Researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, surveyed 374 parents of donor-conceived children aged seven to 18, born after the legislation came into effect, about whether and when they told their children of their origins.

'We were pleased to find that 86 percent of parents had shared this information with their children,' said Professor Cynthia Farquhar, co-author of the study published in Fertility and Sterility.

Disclosure rates were higher among single parents (89 percent) and same-sex parents (96 percent), compared with heterosexual couples (82 percent). Researchers also found that more than half of parents told their children about their origins before they turned ten, which reflects international recommendations, and the average age was just under seven-years-old. Half of respondents said they were in contact with the donors.

The researchers shared their findings and discussed the issues involved with researchers, fertility clinics and donor-conceived people via a hui (Māori assembly). Professor Farquhar said 'Some people told beautiful stories about meeting their donors. Other people were angry they hadn't been told of their donor conception origins as children.'

Fertility clinics generally recommend that parents inform donor-conceived children of their origins before 18, and research suggests that early disclosure means better family relationships. Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that children who were informed of their donor-conceived status before seven had better relationships with their mothers by the age of 20 (see BioNews 1186).

Professor Farquhar said she was 'pleased' to find that a high percentage of those surveyed had disclosed to their children but noted that the survey results may be limited by who chose to respond. The researchers originally invited over 1300 parents to complete the survey but only received 374 responses from eligible participants.

'There could be a responder bias, where people who hadn't shared this information with their children may have been less likely to respond to the survey,' said Professor Farquhar.

The researchers also identified the need for counselling and support for donor-conceived children and their families around sharing information, as 71 percent of parents surveyed said they received no professional support with disclosing.

The authors said in their paper: 'Counselling services should be made available beyond those provided in the fertility treatment period to support parents in disclosing.'