Reproductive Ethics · Third Party Reproduction
Golombok S, 2021 · Child development perspectives
Ever since the birth of the first baby born through in vitro fertilization in 1978, advances in reproductive technologies have raised new concerns about the outcomes for children. In this article, I summarize research on children born through assisted reproduction involving a third party, that is, children born through egg donation, sperm donation, and surrogacy, with particular attention to the findings of a longitudinal study of children born to heterosexual couples in the United Kingdom. The assisted reproduction families generally showed high levels of family functioning and children's adjustment from early childhood through to adolescence, suggesting that biological relatedness is less important than positive parent-child relationships for the well-being of children conceived by third-party assisted reproduction. Similarly, studies of families created by third-party reproduction with two mothers, single mothers, two fathers, and single fathers have shown that these families function well.
Reproductive Ethics · Third Party Reproduction
Lambert P, 2025 · Human Reproduction
Abstract
With shifts in legislation, increasing use of direct-to-consumer DNA testing, and growing advocacy around the right to identity more and more donor conceived people are seeking and obtaining information about the genetic origins.
The presentation explores the deeply personal and complex journey of donor conceived (DC) people who seek to find their biological donors.
This presentation explores the nuanced experience of donor conceived people as they are navigating the process of discovering their donor identity. Drawing on recent research, clinical insights and first-hand accounts the presentation explores the motivation of DC people, their hopes and fears, their expectations and experiences of finding and contacting their donors and the diverse outcomes of such processes.
The presentation examines common challenges such as navigating secrecy, boundary setting, impact on family dynamics and different donors’ responses and level of engagement. It also highlights the impact of the interactions between DC individuals and their donors, whether affirming, ambiguous or disappointing, on the individual sense of self and family dynamics.
The presentation will also address the ethical and practical considerations for professionals working in reproductive medicine and / or mental health highlighting the importance and benefits of psychological support, intermediary services and peer support.
Reproductive Ethics · Third Party Reproduction
Indekeu A, 2025 · Human Reproduction
Abstract
The general point of view on disclosure of the donor conception to the offspring experienced a major change over the years. From the outset, non-disclosure was imposed by medical professionals. Decades of debates followed, discussing if disclosure or non-disclosure would be in the best interest of the donor-conceived person, before the recommendation to disclose the donor conception to the offspring was integrated in professional guidelines such as those of ASRM (2013) and ESHRE (2024). This change in view was supported by research findings showing that late disclosure (and often discovery) has a negative impact on the wellbeing of donor-conceived people, that early disclosure is not burdensome for donor-conceived children (moreover, it is preferred by donor-conceived people), and that early disclosure is associated with better well-being of donor-conceived people during adolescence. Moreover, societal changes, such as the technological development of direct-to-consumer-genetic testing, have made non-disclosure impossible. Lastly, the framing of disclosure as a question concerning ‘the best interest’ of donor-conceived people has been replaced by a framework that information about one’s origin concerns a fundamental human right.
Not only did the recommendation regarding disclosure/non-disclosure changed, also the knowledge about disclosure increased. While initially disclosure was often approached as a dichotomous act, research findings showed that disclosure occurs much more in layers. Moreover, disclosure is not a one-off activity, but (as preferred by donor-conceived people themselves) an ongoing conversation over the family-life course, that continues when the child grows up. Besides, disclosure is not a unilateral process in which only parents take up an active role, but it is an interactive process in which parent and child co-create their family-story. Lastly, disclosure does not only concern the origins of the child, but it is also a family-building story, in which parents formed their family in a different way they initially imagined.
In relation to the actual disclosure process, studies have shown that parental confidence is generally associated with disclosure and a lack of confidence (including uncertainty around the language to use, the best way and time to disclose, and finding the information difficult to share) is associated with non-disclosure. A recent literature review showed that many participants across studies reported feelings of being unprepared, isolation and anxiety around the disclosure decision and process, and express a desire for support. Parents would like to hear experiences from other parents and to have access to resources, such as storybooks and movies, and networking opportunities for the donor-conceived people as they might enhance feeling comfortable with the disclosure process. However, support and advice were not always provided.
This presentation reviews the latest existing empirical data regarding the disclosure-process (factors that might influence the process, outcomes, experiences of parents and donor-conceived people) and will especially address how, psychosocial as well as medical, professionals can support families in their ongoing conversation about their family-building, pre-, during and post-treatment. Furthermore, challenges and limitations of offering ongoing support will be discussed as well, based on an inquiry conducted in 10 jurisdictions.
Reproductive Ethics · Third Party Reproduction
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Electronic address: asrm@asrm.org, 2023 · Fertility and sterility
Building families through the adoption of children has been supported by human society throughout history. The ethical appropriateness of patients donating embryos to other patients for family building, or for research, is well established and is affirmed by this Committee. The use of the term ''adoption'' for embryos is inaccurate and should be avoided. This document replaces the ASRM Ethics Committee statement by the same name, last published in 2016.