The Gamete Project is a research initiative that aims to investigate and understand the experiences and perspectives of individuals involved in donor conception. Our research is focused on exploring the social interactions between donor-conceived children, parents of donor-conceived children, and donors. We believe that this research can help to improve our understanding of this complex and sensitive field.
It is estimated that more than 8 million children worldwide have been born as a result of assisted reproductive technologies, many of whom have been conceived by sperm and oocyte donation. The donation of sperm and oocytes to help someone achieve their dream of having a child is one of the most selfless gifts. However, the donation process involves several individuals, and it is the balancing of the rights, interests and obligations of all individuals involved, which has, until more recently, often tended to favour the donors right to privacy and, therefore, donor anonymity.
In each country, donor anonymity law is different. The rise of consumer DNA tests (which allow people to connect with relatives they never knew they had, e.g. 23andMe and AncestryDNA websites) makes it virtually impossible for oocyte and sperm banks to guarantee donor anonymity.
If you are a donor, donor-conceived person, a recipient of donor oocytes (eggs), sperm or embryos or you are contemplating donation, please take 5 minutes to complete our survey. We would appreciate your time and expertise – your opinions and feedback are fundamental for our research to understand the human experience and influence change in legislation to improve ongoing care and support for all individuals and service providers involved.
