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Donor Family Matters

How to counsel and connect with donor families

Genetics
Accurate Terminology in Egg Donation Families

Wendy Kramer on April 30, 2024

Donor-conceived people can be empowered to explore and celebrate their origin story while embracing accurate language and accurately acknowledging genetic contributions.

Donor-conceived people can be empowered to explore and celebrate their origin story while embracing accurate language and accurately acknowledging genetic contributions.

Identity
The Ethical Sperm Bank: An All-Open Sperm Bank

Wendy Kramer on January 25, 2024

Personal Perspective: It's time for sperm banks to stop keeping people from their ancestry, family medical information, and close relatives for the first 18 years of life.

Personal Perspective: It's time for sperm banks to stop keeping people from their ancestry, family medical information, and close relatives for the first 18 years of life.

Genetics
DNA Matters: Psychological Differences in Donor Families

Wendy Kramer on January 4, 2024

Knowing one's family medical history and having updated information on the psychological health of unknown genetic relatives is crucial for donor family members.

Knowing one's family medical history and having updated information on the psychological health of unknown genetic relatives is crucial for donor family members.

Family Dynamics
Contacting a Gamete Donor for the First Time: The Letter

Wendy Kramer on November 1, 2023

Whether you're a parent to a donor-conceived person (DCP) or a DCP yourself, reaching out to a biological parent for the first time can be an exciting yet nail-biting experience.

Whether you're a parent to a donor-conceived person (DCP) or a DCP yourself, reaching out to a biological parent for the first time can be an exciting yet nail-biting experience.

Genetics
Sperm Banks, Egg Facilities, and the Backfire Effect

Wendy Kramer on October 2, 2023

The backfire effect helps to explain why gamete brokers often struggle with changing policy in light of new evidence presented to them about donor families.

The backfire effect helps to explain why gamete brokers often struggle with changing policy in light of new evidence presented to them about donor families.

Family Dynamics
Gamete Sellers: It's More Than Just a Financial Transaction

Wendy Kramer on September 5, 2023

There are many commonalities in egg and sperm donors' experiences. Here are some topics and concerns that can be pondered privately or shared with a therapist or family members.

There are many commonalities in egg and sperm donors' experiences. Here are some topics and concerns that can be pondered privately or shared with a therapist or family members.

Family Dynamics
Donor-Conceived Children Meeting Their Half-Siblings

Wendy Kramer on August 7, 2023

How old should a child be before they meet their half-siblings? While this is an easy question to answer for most, some parents make it unnecessarily complicated.

How old should a child be before they meet their half-siblings? While this is an easy question to answer for most, some parents make it unnecessarily complicated.

Infertility
Why Is There a Shortage of Black Egg and Sperm Donors?

Wendy Kramer on July 27, 2023

Collaboration between health care and mental health professionals and the donor family community is vital for creating a more diverse donor conception landscape.

Collaboration between health care and mental health professionals and the donor family community is vital for creating a more diverse donor conception landscape.

Relationships
Reaching Out to Sperm and Egg Donors

Wendy Kramer on July 5, 2023

Reconciling the risks and rewards of connecting with a formerly anonymous donor can be daunting. Quite often, the rewards far outweigh the risks, which can be managed.

Reconciling the risks and rewards of connecting with a formerly anonymous donor can be daunting. Quite often, the rewards far outweigh the risks, which can be managed.

Family Dynamics
Donor-Conceived People: Curiously not Curious

Wendy Kramer on May 8, 2023

Sometimes donor-conceived people insist that they are not at all curious about half-siblings/biological parents. What might be at the root of the ambiguity or apparent disinterest?

Sometimes donor-conceived people insist that they are not at all curious about half-siblings/biological parents. What might be at the root of the ambiguity or apparent disinterest?

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Genetics
Egg and Sperm Donors: It's Complicated

Wendy Kramer on April 24, 2023

Anecdotal information and research report that donors experience ongoing ramifications for themselves, their families, and any donor children who will share ~50% of their DNA.

Anecdotal information and research report that donors experience ongoing ramifications for themselves, their families, and any donor children who will share ~50% of their DNA.

Forgiveness
Tips for Donor-Conceived Adults Who Just Found Out the Truth

Wendy Kramer on March 2, 2023

Donor-conceived people whose conception stories were not shared with them as children can feel as though their worlds and identities are being turned upside down.

Donor-conceived people whose conception stories were not shared with them as children can feel as though their worlds and identities are being turned upside down.

Embarrassment
Secrecy v. Privacy in Donor Conception Families

Wendy Kramer on December 13, 2022

Donor conception is a discipline of medicine where the legacy of secrecy remains in current practice. Donor families can respect others' privacy while not carrying secrets.

Donor conception is a discipline of medicine where the legacy of secrecy remains in current practice. Donor families can respect others' privacy while not carrying secrets.