Opinions of potential sperm donors and recipients to the release of identifying information.

^1,2K. Godman, ¹K Sanders, ²M. Rosenberg and ³P. Burton

¹School of Anatomy & Human Biology and ²School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, ³Concept Fertility Centre Subiaco Western Australia.

Aim:  To examine the opinions of potential sperm donors and recipients in Western Australia to the release of identifying information about the donor. 

Methods: Forty-five potential sperm donors and 17 women receiving donor sperm at Concept Fertility Centre completed an anonymous questionnaire.  The donor questionnaire sought information about motivations for donation, opinions on releasing identifying information, level of contact with future donor offspring, and the importance of anonymity in the decision to donate.  Recipients were asked their opinion on the release of identifying information about the donor, if a child should be told about the manner of their conception and the level of contact they would want between their offspring and the donor.  Cross tabulations and chi-square analyses were used to compare responses.

Results:  Approximately 50% of potential donors indicated they would still donate if their identity was revealed to future offspring.  When asked whether they would consider contact 80% responded positively, although most (42%) would only consider one-off contact.  Eighty-two percent of recipients were planning to inform their offspring about the manner of their conception and 76% believed the offspring should receive identifying information about the donor..  Recipients were ambivalent about the level of contact between their offspring and the donor.

Conclusion:  These results suggest that the move to an open identity donor system in Western Australia will benefit the majority of recipient parents who are intending to disclose, however, it also suggests a 50% decline in the number of potential sperm donors.