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Constrained Choices: Navigating Agency and Social Structures in Sperm Donor Selection.

Sabrina Zeghiche1, Isabel Côté1,2, Kévin Lavoie3

  • 1Department of Social Work, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, Québec, Canada.

Sociology of Health & Illness
|December 15, 2025
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Summary

Intended parents in Canada face many constraints when selecting a sperm donor, making it a negotiated process rather than an autonomous choice. Donor selection involves compromises due to regulations, availability, and personal dynamics.

Keywords:
agencychoicedonor conceptiondonor selectionintended parentssperm donorthird‐party reproduction

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Area of Science:

  • Sociology of Health and Illness
  • Reproductive Sociology
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Sperm donor selection is a critical decision for intended parents.
  • Existing research often overlooks the complex constraints influencing this choice.
  • Understanding these factors is vital for supporting diverse family formations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine how intended parents in Canada navigate sperm donor selection.
  • To explore the institutional, interpersonal, and material constraints affecting donor choice.
  • To analyze donor selection as a negotiated practice within the reproductive arena.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative interviews with 40 intended parents from various family types (heteroparental, lesboparental, soloparental).
  • Application of negotiated order theory to understand decision-making processes.
  • Analysis of donor selection within fertility clinics and donor databases.

Main Results:

  • Donor selection is not autonomous but a negotiated practice shaped by constraints.
  • Initial preferences for donor resemblance, identity disclosure, and medical history are often compromised.
  • Structural limitations and evolving priorities influence parental decisions.

Conclusions:

  • Sperm donor selection is a situated negotiation, influenced by relational and institutional factors.
  • Choice is exercised within unequal landscapes, necessitating policy reform.
  • Recommendations include clearer clinical guidance and improved access to donor information.