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

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.