In the past the records for sperm or egg donation were typically sealed in the UK, with very little information provided to the children born from these donors. Now the laws surrounding donation have been changed. Children conceived through donations will be able to find out the name, birthdate, and address of their donors when they turn 18, starting in 2023.

That includes anyone who was conceived from a donation of egg, sperm, or embryo, where that donation was provided on or after the first of April 2005. There’s some concern from donors over the opportunity to do this, as they may not want to be contacted by the children created from their donations.

But for anyone trying to get more information about where they came from, their medical history, and other factors, this is an important opportunity that will allow them to learn about their origins. Whether they contact their donors and what they do with the information they receive is up to them, but having the ability to know about their genetic history can be important.

In an age where more people are being conceived this way and the risk of starting a relationship with someone, only to find out they’re a relative, is increasing. Additionally, many people who come from donated eggs or sperm want to know about genetic risks, health conditions, and other concerns that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise.

Anyone who has donated sperm, eggs, or embryos since 2005 hasn’t been able to do so anonymously, and they knew there was some chance that their information would be made available to any children produced from their genetic material. Now that potential option has been realized, and many donors may find that they’re being contacted by biological children they didn’t know they had.

For those children, this is an opportunity to know more about where they came from, and to address any potential health conditions or genetic concerns they may have. The more they can find out about their donor, the more many of them can feel complete.

Our thorough contracts also establish the intent of the parties regarding parental rights, identify the parties’ financial responsibility, and ensure all parties are aware of the importance of informed consent, providing our clients with further peace of mind as they navigate their third party assisted reproduction journeys. If necessary, we also help guide parents through the process of finalizing their parental rights, which can seem daunting and confusing. Learn more about our egg, embryo and sperm donation services now!