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[Do couples who procreate through sperm donation inform their children?].
1Laboratoire de biologie de reproduction-CECOS, hôpital de Conception, AP-HM, 147, boulevard Baille, 13385 Marseille, France.
Summary
Most parents who intended to tell their children about conception via sperm donation did so, with offspring often reacting with indifference. Openness policies require parental communication for effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Genetics
- Bioethics
Context:
- French bioethics law amendments propose donor-conceived individuals' right to identity.
- Limited data exists on parental disclosure rates in France.
- This study addresses disclosure practices among parents intending to inform offspring.
Purpose:
- To assess the proportion of couples who disclose conception by gamete donation to their offspring.
- To evaluate parental and offspring experiences following disclosure.
Summary:
- A questionnaire was sent to parents intending to disclose conception via sperm donation.
- 14 out of 20 responding couples informed their offspring; most experiences were positive.
- Offspring reacted with indifference in 47% of cases; some parents later opted out of disclosure.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for pre-conception counseling and postnatal support for effective communication.
- Suggests that disclosure policies are ineffective without parental communication.
- Informs future bioethical guidelines regarding gamete donation and donor-conceived individuals' rights.
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