Expectations and experiences of gamete donors and donor-conceived adults searching for genetic relatives using DNA linking through a voluntary register

STUDY QUESTION What are the experiences of donor-conceived adults and donors who are searching for a genetic link through the use of a DNA-based voluntary register service? SUMMARY ANSWER Donor-conceived adults and donors held positive beliefs about their search and although some concerns in relation to finding a genetically linked relative were reported, these were not a barrier to searching. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Research with donor-conceived people has consistently identified their interest in learning about—and in some cases making contact with—their donor and other genetic relatives. However, donor-conceived individuals or donors rarely have the opportunity to act on these desires. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, AND DURATION A questionnaire was administered for online completion using Bristol Online Surveys. The survey was live for 3 months and responses were collected anonymously. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, AND METHODS The survey was completed by 65 donor-conceived adults, 21 sperm donors and 5 oocyte donors who had registered with a DNA-based voluntary contact register in the UK. The questionnaire included socio-demographic questions, questions specifically developed for the purposes of this study and the standardized Aspects of Identity Questionnaire (AIQ). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Motivations for searching for genetic relatives were varied, with the most common reasons being curiosity and passing on information. Overall, participants who were a...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Psychology and counselling Source Type: research