title: Adolescents Conceived through Donor Insemination in Mother-Headed Families: A Qualitative Study of Motivations and Experiences of Contacting and Meeting Same-donor Offspring.
abstract: This study interviewed adolescents conceived using sperm donation to examine their experiences of contacting and meeting 'same-donor offspring' (i.e. donor-conceived offspring raised in different families who share the same donor), their motivations for this contact, and how they make meaning of these relationships. This in-depth qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 23 young people aged 12-19 years (mean = 14 years). Interviewees were motivated by curiosity about their biological relations and by wanting to extend their family. Contact with same-donor offspring was described as being either normal/neutral or as a unique experience that was integrated into their identity. This study highlights the importance of contact between same donor offspring, particularly during adolescence, a developmental stage associated with identity formation. The findings have important policy implications as they suggest that donor-conceived individuals may benefit from contact with others conceived using the same donor prior to the age of 18 years.
authors.affiliation: Center for Attachment Research Department of Clinical Psychology The New School for Social Research New York NY USA.
authors.forename: Sherina
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3312-5905
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Persaud
authors.affiliation: Centre for Family Research Department of Psychology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK.
authors.forename: Tabitha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Family Research Department of Psychology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK.
authors.forename: Vasanti
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jadva
authors.affiliation: Center for Attachment Research Department of Clinical Psychology The New School for Social Research New York NY USA.
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slutsky
authors.affiliation: Donor Sibling Registry Nederland CO USA.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Center for Attachment Research Department of Clinical Psychology The New School for Social Research New York NY USA.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.affiliation: Center for Attachment Research Department of Clinical Psychology The New School for Social Research New York NY USA.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.affiliation: Centre for Family Research Department of Psychology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golombok
keywords: donor conception; donor insemination; donor siblings; same‐donor offspring; sperm donation