Conceived after August 1991
If you were conceived in the UK after August 1991, then information about your mother’s treatment, any donor used in that treatment and your existence will be recorded on the register held by the HFEA. If you are 16 or over you are entitled to have non-identifying information about your donor and may find that identifying information is available if he or she has re-registered as ‘willing to be known’ to offspring from age 18. However, very few donors have re-registered in this way, partly because there is no publicity about their ability to do so. You can also know how many half-siblings you have, their years of birth and their gender and, if you are 18 or over, register your interest in being in touch with any of these people by mutual consent. If you are under 16 your parents can obtain the information about numbers, gender and years of birth of half-siblings.
However, if you feel in need of support the HFEA does not currently have access to the counsellors contracted to UKDL/DCR and can only refer you to general counselling organisations. If you are in this position we invite you to contact either DCR or DC Network for further guidance.
The Donor Conceived Register has a registrants’ website set up by the registrants themselves. They hold social gatherings for DC people and are open to all, regardless of year of birth.
You may also like to read the stories of other donor conceived adults or buy or borrow books that contain accounts from donor conceived people.
You are also very welcome to join our Donor Conceived Young Person’s Group. See below or contact DCN for further details.