Take part in current research
Sharing your views and contributing to research can help benefit individuals and families across the donor conception community.
About the studies below
Below are some current research studies actively seeking participants from the donor conception community. All research proposals submitted to us are reviewed by our DCN Research Review Group. If a study is considered relevant and of interest, we agree to publicise it so that members can decide whether they would like to learn more or take part.
Please note that the Donor Conception Network is not responsible for the conduct of the research or its outcomes – this responsibility lies entirely with the study team. If you have any questions about our research approval process, feel free to contact us at research@dcnetwork.org.
Title | Who can participate | details | contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesbians’ experiences of donor insemination in England between 1970 and 2000* | You can participate if you are: A lesbian who has used donor insemination in England at any time between 1970 and 2000? Or are someone who has helped a lesbian with donor insemination (this may include but is not limited to: helping a partner or friend; health professionals working in public or private settings; sperm bank staff; activists and campaigners) | These oral history interviews form part of a PhD research project that aims to recover the experiences of lesbians who have used donor insemination in various ways, including self insemination and artificial insemination by donor (AID). | Email Ellen BridsonProject flyer |
| ”Who do I call Mummy”? How do adults raised in two mother families in the UK construct and make meaning of their family identity through personal narratives? | The researcher is looking for adults who were raised in two-mum households and are willing to discuss what that experience was like for them. | A postgraduate student completing a Master’s in Family Therapy, is currently conducting research for her dissertation. Her study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences and stories of adults who were raised by two mothers. The study involves semi-structured, confidential interviews providing a safe, supportive space for participants to reflect on and share their personal experiences of growing up with two mothers. | Email Anna Richards |
| Community conversations | All donor conceived adults are welcome to take part, but she would especially love to hear from donor conceived people raised by parents who conceived with a known donor arrangement or ‘informal arrangements’. | Leah Gilman, a researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University is looking for donor conceived adults to take part in community conversations, as part of the Digital Donor Conception study, which explores informal routes to donor conception. She would like donor conceived people’s feedback on what they have found out in their research, with a view to planning next steps. Conversations can be one-to-one or in a group, as preferred. | Email Dr Leah GilmanExpress interestProject website |
| PRECAS Project | What is it like to use an egg or sperm donor, with expanded carrier screening (ECS) results? To take part you would need to have no family history of heritable genetic disorders. You need to have used, or have considered and decided not to use, ECS with your partner before donor conception. You can participate if you are: * A couple * A single person, or * One partner in a couple. The interview can be online or in person, and outside working hours if needed. | We are looking for people who are using donor eggs or sperm which have been tested with a genetic test called ‘expanded carrier screening’ (ECS). This can show if a donor carries genes that do not affect them but might be passed on to the child. We are exploring what people think about having this information about their donor, and whether they decide to have a match test to see if they carry the same genetic mutation. If you have taken the test, or have considered it and decided not to, we ask how you made this decision, and what you decided in the end. Could you help by telling us about your experience? It involves one interview (usually lasting 30 to 60 minutes) in a place convenient to you, or by online video call if you prefer. The interview is completely confidential and there is a thank you voucher for taking part. This is a national research project funded by the UK’s national research funding body, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It is aiming to understand how and why people use the tests, and to inform policy and best practice around ECS tests. | If you’d like to find out more, without feeling any obligation to take part, please contact us: EmailProject websiteProject flyer |
| The Online Sperm Donation Project: New ways of creating families | Are you a couple currently looking for sperm online? The Online Sperm Donation Project would love to hear your story! £20 thank you payment! For more information on how to take part, email us. |  |
