Sperm and egg donors' views on identity release, donor offspring information and genetic testing

The study intended to find out whether sperm and egg donors hold different views on identifiability, information about donor offspring, genetic testing, and extended carrier screening.

An online questionnaire was sent to accepted sperm (n = 70) and egg donors (n = 39) from the same gamete bank in the United States 3 years apart (2020 and 2023). Only questions that were identical for both groups were included in the analysis.

There were no differences in the donors' reasons for donating: both groups were mainly motivated by the wish to help childless couples, to earn money or a combination of the two. The study was performed in a setting where donors could choose between identity (ID) release or non-ID release donation. Egg donors were equally likely to opt for ID release (69.2%) as sperm donors (73.7%). The only significant difference was that egg donors were more likely than sperm donors to want to know whether the donation resulted in a pregnancy or birth (89.7% vs. 68.4%, p = 0.02). No differences were found in the information they wanted to receive about the offspring. They were also equally likely to be open about their donor status with other people and their own children. Both groups were in favour of genetic testing (92.6% and 82%, respectively) and positive about extended carrier screening (87.2 and 76.3%, respectively).

There were few differences in the views and attitudes of egg and sperm donors regarding identity release, information about donor offspring, and extended genetic testing.