Hear from the egg donors

Discover the EDNA Films – eight free-to-watch films in which egg donors share their motivations, experiences, and advice. Produced by the team at De Montfort University, the films offer unique insight into the realities and complexities of egg donation today.

New content kindly provided by the Centre for Reproduction Research at De Montfort University.

Watch now

**New Perspectives magazine out now!**

The summer edition of our Perspectives magazine is out now and it’s packed with useful information and great features specifically for the donor conception community. It includes three new personal stories, Q&A with Laura Runnels of the DC Journal Club, articles from our Lawyer and Clinic Supporters, and much more…

DCN members only

Download now in our Members’ Area

2025 Virtual Conference

Tickets on sale now!

Want to hear from donor conceived people and connect with other parents from the comfort of your own home?

Join us on 21 June for our fifth online conference. We’ve an amazing line-up of speakers, and tickets cost just £35 for DCN members, plus we’ve a special offer for non-members.

Find out more

‘The Doughnut Club’ – available now in DCN bookshop!

Ideal for 8-15 year olds, this is a lively and engaging read. We particularly loved the insightful thoughts of 12 year old Quinn about what makes a family, as she discovers she and her annoying little brother have 16 new half siblings they have never met…

Membership only £7 per month – join us!

We have a huge range of resources and services that we provide through a membership subscription.

We keep our fees low to ensure we’re accessible to all donor conception families and whatever your circumstances we look forward to welcoming you into our community!

Find out about DCN membership

Find exclusive resources in our members’ area

Explore our exclusive DCN members’ area — packed with helpful videos, expert guides, magazines, useful links and more. Log in to make the most of your membership and find resources specially designed for donor conception families.

We are the Donor Conception Network

Parent-led and child-focused, we have been supporting donor conception families for over 30 years.

We’re a supportive charity network providing information, support and community for those building, or thinking about building, their family through donor conception.

Find out more

TALKING ABOUT DONOR CONCEPTION

Telling your family story

Build confidence in your family story and get guidance on the best way to ‘tell’ with our one-day workshop for mum-and-dad families.

See 2025 dates

Considering egg, sperm, double or embryo donation?

Looking for information or support? Feeling alone?

If you’re thinking about using donor conception or are already having treatment, whether in the UK or abroad, we’re here to offer support, information and a community of families in a similar situation. We can help you think through your questions and concerns; just click on the section below that fits your family type to get details aimed more specifically at you and your family.

Already a parent?

Looking for help with telling your child about their conception?

We know it can be daunting to tell your child that they are donor conceived. We believe that openness is best for the child and for the whole family and have 30 years’ experience helping families to think through how and when to share their family’s story. We have books, workshops and online chats to help you navigate these conversations. We also have specific guidance for people with older children who haven’t been told yet, as well as opportunities for children to meet others made ‘just like them’. Choose your family type from the options below to find out more.

Who are you?

Heterosexual couple

Female same-sex couple

Male same-sex couple

Single woman

Single man

More family situations

Donor conceived person

Donor

Friend/family member

Professional

Featured events

Members and non-members

Online

Oct

Workshop: Telling & Talking (solo mum and two-mum families)

This workshop is for parents of donor-conceived children aged 0-7 years. Not sure how to begin a conversation with your child about their donor conception story? Maybe you’re unsure about whether telling is the right thing to do? Or perhaps you’re concerned about who to tell and not tell in your life? Our Telling & Talking workshop is designed specifically with your needs and questions in mind. It provides a safe and confidential space for you to explore the benefits of telling and how to get started. This workshop is equally appropriate whether you had treatment in the UK or abroad, with a known, identifiable or anonymous donor or if your treatment involved surrogacy. You may be wondering how to start talking to your child about their donor-conceived origins, or you may have already begun this process and would like to explore what may come up in the future. As a single or lesbian woman, we recognise that your experiences are different from the time your pregnancy becomes public knowledge, and that attending our workshop even before your baby is born might be helpful for you. All of our single women and lesbian couples’ workshops have a small number of places for pregnant women.

Book now

Members and non-members

In person

Nov

Workshop: Telling & Talking (IN PERSON, mum-and-dad families)

This workshop is for parents of donor-conceived children aged 0-7 years. This workshop is equally appropriate whether you had treatment in the UK or abroad, with a known, identifiable or anonymous donor or if your treatment involved surrogacy. You may be wondering how to start talking to your child about their donor-conceived origins, or you may have already begun this process and would like to explore what may come up in the future.

Book now

Featured

Our Story

One of our bestsellers, ‘Our Story’ is a range of books aimed at young children aged 3-6. They provide a simple introduction to donor conception in age-appropriate language. We have nearly 40 different versions covering a wide range of families. We even have books for donors to help them explain to their own children.

View all books

Featured

Our Story

View all books

Member shortcuts

Members’ area

Welcome to our dedicated space for DCN members, where you’ll find resources, content, information and more, all tailored to donor conception families like yours.

Find out more

Join an online chat

DCN online chats are a relaxed, easy way to meet others in a similar situation to you and to talk through shared issues from the comfort of your home.

Join a chat

Find a local group

There’s nothing like meeting in person to help build friendships. We have local groups all over the UK, Ireland and some abroad to help you build a supportive community.

Find a meet-up

Upcoming events

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Jun

Virtual Meetup for members in North America

Please join us to meet other DCN members living in the United States and Canada on June 22nd, 7:30pm EST. This is an informal opportunity to get to know others in North America, chat about all things donor conception, and form some new connections. DCN volunteer, Joumana, will be facilitating the Chat.

View event

Jun

Ethnicity in donor conception

This DCN chat is an opportunity to come together to talk about the issue of ethnicity in donor conception. This may be relevant if you are undertaking treatment with a donor of a different ethnicity, where ethnicity shows up in your donor decision-making process or where your child’s external appearance differs significantly to you (or you and your partner). This DCN Chat is open to all, but please note that the intention of this discussion is to hold a space for people who are experiencing challenges and successes within this realm and to offer the opportunity to share these in a peer-support forum. There is no right or wrong and we would ask that anyone who joins does so with the intention of being extremely respectful with this somewhat sensitive issue. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Mariam. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event. Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further more professional support, please don’t hesitate to contact the DC Network office on dcngroups@dcnetwork.org

View event

Jun

Heterosexual couples -Chat for those undergoing treatment with egg donation

A space for members who are in the process of undertaking treatment with egg donation, to come together to talk about shared issues. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Anna. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event. Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further support, please dont hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org

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Jun

Heterosexual couples – Sperm donation – prospective and new parents

Come and join us for a private space to discuss sperm donation in heterosexual couples with others going down a similar path. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Danny, dad to two children, concieved through sperm donation. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, volunteers, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event. Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further support, please dont hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org

View event

Jun

ANNUAL Solo Mums Picnic 28/6/25 – 20 years old!

ANNUAL Solo Mums Picnic 28/6/25 – 20 years old! ******** The first Solo Mums Picnic was in 2005, attended by about a dozen of us plus assorted children. In those days, there was a paddling pool and an entrance fee, now we’ve got a cocktail bar and free entry… The crowd has grown to 60+, from thinkers and tryers to pregnant women and mums with little ones, and some bigger ones too, as well as the occasional Grandma! Some have travelled as far as Ireland or Belgium, others from round the corner. Generally lucky with the weather, we try to find shade, spread out the blankets and have a great time. The playground provides for those who like to climb & swing, the lawns allow for a bit of frisbee or ball play, and for the rest of us to loll around in the sun and make connections that last for years, sharing tips and tricks and anecdotes…

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About the Donor Conception Network

They say it takes a village to raise children. Well, sometimes it takes a village to help you even contemplate that journey.

We’re a supportive charity network of over 2,200, mainly UK-based, families with children conceived with donated sperm, eggs or embryos, those thinking about or undergoing donor conception procedures and donor conceived people. We provide support, information and a community of families in a similar situation.

Find out more

♡ Donate today

We are a small charity and are funded by membership fees and by donations. If you would like to support us, your donation would be greatly appreciated and will help us support the next generation of donor conception families.

Donate now