Being a donor-child: wishes for parental support, peer support and counseling

Figures & data

Figure 1. Recruitment and inclusion of donor-conceived offspring.

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the included donor-conceived offspring.

Characteristic	n
Age (mean, range)	26,9 years (17–41 years)
Gender
Women	18
Men	6
Education
University	10
Higher professional education	9
Middle professional education	5
Family type
Heterosexual parents	11
Parents divorced	4
Parents died	2 (father)
Lesbian parents	7
Parents divorced	4
Single mother	6
Sperm donor
Anonymous	20
Identifiable donor	4
Living area
Urban area	10
Village	14
Disclosure
By parents	22
By a neighbor	1
By a niece	1
Moment of disclosure
Early childhood	15
Pre-school age	2
Puberty	2
Adulthood	5

Table 2. Four themes and the frequencies and percentages of the comments.

Theme	n	%
Disclosure by parents
Tried to talk about donor-conception with their parents	24	100
Experienced no difficulties talking with their parents about donor conception	15	62.5
Had felt that their parents had not been able to talk about donor conception, and mentioned feelings of guilt, anxiety and embarrassment	9	37.5
Said that their parents had been advised by the doctor to keep donor conception a secret for them and their surroundings	9	37.5
Wished that their parents had told them earlier in life that they are a donor-child	2	8.3
Wished that their parents would have received good counseling	8	33.3
Clinics should encourage intended parents to talk openly with their child about being a donor-child as soon as possible	22	91.7
Peer support
Told family and friends about being a donor-child	19	79.2
Only told closest friends about being a donor-child	4	16.7
Interested in stories of other donor-conceived offspring	15	62.5
Visited meetings of Stichting Donorkind	9	37.5
No wish for contact with Stichting Donorkind	8	33.3
Independent and trustworthy information
Curious about personality and genetic characters of the donor	19	79.2
Registered at FIOM’s KID DNA-Databank as they wished contact with the donor or half-siblings	16	66.7
Wished information about the clinic where their parents had been treated	4	16.7
Counseling
Had conversations with a psychologist or social worker for problems which were related to being a donor-child	3	12.5
Had conversations with a psychologist or social worker for problems which were not related to being a donor-child	4	16.7
Wished for counseling from a counselor specialized in donor conception	3	12.5
Mentioned that counseling should be available for those who needed this	22	91.7