Female same-sex couple
Information and resources for same-sex female couples considering using sperm, double or embryo donation as well as for two-mum families who already have children conceived this way.
Getting started
Considering donor conception?
You might be coming to this website having decided you want to be parents and are wondering if sperm donation might be the best route. Itโs possible you have already started treatment, which hasn’t been successful, and are now considering moving on to double or embryo donation and wondering how it will feel to lose all genetic connection with any child. Whatever your circumstances we have support and information to help. We recommend starting on the โMaking your Decisionโ page as these first pages contain information specific to your situation and the early part of your donor conception journey.
Are you parents of a donor conceived child?
If youโre pregnant or already have children, you might be looking for contact with other couples or other donor conception families, both for yourself and for your child. Maybe youโre being asked questions at work or by family or friends and are wondering how to respond. You might be looking for information and guidance around how to explain things to your child or how to talk with your child as he or she gets older.
We know many of our same-sex couples like the DCN environment because we include all families, regardless of how they are constituted. It can be great (and interesting!) for children to realise itโs not just lesbian couples that use sperm donation and that solo mums and mum-and-dad families sometimes also also use donor conception. We recommend you start at the โTelling and Talkingโ page and work your way through the pages from there.
Events for you
Blue events are DCN members-only, purple are open to all:
Member event
Online
May
19
Parents with children ages 13 – 18
You are invited to join us for a conversation for parents of children in the age ranges of 13-18 years old. Members in all family circumstances are invited.
This is a place of peer support, whatever stage you are at of ‘telling’, you are very welcome to join the conversation and benefit from the experience and connections on offer.
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Sarah, mum to adult twins, conceived with 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.
Member event
In person
May
31
Scotland: Meetup in Edinburgh
We are delighted to invite our Scottish members to a family meetup in The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Sunday 31 May at botanic gardens, Edinburgh 10:30-12:00
– Edinburgh botanic gardens. Meet at the Terrace cafe up the hill
Sarah, local meetup coordinator, will look forward to welcoming you to this event.
Members in all situations are very welcome. Whether you have children already or still considering, do come along to meet others in the Network!
Member event
Online
Jun
1
โReflectionsโ – Parents of DC Adults
You are invited to join the group for parents of DC adults. This group will be facilitated by Jane, one of our longterm members who also works with DCN.
We are inviting parents of those with children who are adults.
We hope this chat can offer an attuned space to the discussions that may be more relevant to the context in which children were conceived 20+ years ago, in a different climate to that which is now prevalent, with regards to openness in particular.
Join us for discussion and support from peers.
Members and non-members
Online
Jun
6
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 youโre 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 couplesโ workshops have a small number of places for pregnant women.
Member event
In person
Jun
7
**Date change: West Midlands meetup for all
The next DCN West Midlands meeting will be on Sunday 7th May, 1pm
Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield B74 2YT
Meet at Sutton Park Town Gate Visitor Centre at 1pm then we will find a picnic spot nearer the playground.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kXPmRj1bpkuoY2WV8?g_st=ac
Member event
Online
Jun
10
Couples (including separated couples) with children ages 0-3
You are invited to join us for a conversation for members who are parents to small children aged 0-3 years old.
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Rachel, who together with her husband, has two children through donor conception. 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 don’t hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org
Member event
Online
Jun
10
Half sibling discussion
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing the pros and cons of taking steps to identify genetic siblings. We will offer a space to deliberate about the merits and pitfalls of this and what possible implications doing so/or not do so might have on you and your child. The chat will be facilitated by Adrienne, who is a solo mum with a child born in 2020. This forum is for discussing the topic, rather than a ‘how to’.
** Becuase of the nature of the conversation we ask that participants are particularly careful not to share identifying details of their donor.
Member event
Online
Jun
11
Anonymous donation – for those who don’t have ID release or known donors
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing anonymous donation and how that is experienced for us as donation recipients. The chat will be facilitated by Valentina, DCN member, and mum through egg donation to two children through anonymous donation.
Please be aware that the Anonymous donation chatโs purpose is to understand the meaning that is given to the anonymous donation and how it is managed by those who are already parents. Prospective parents can join the call, however the main goal is to offer an opportunity to talk through the meaning that recipient parents give to the anonymous donation, rather than explore whether this is the best route for prospective parents, which would be best done in the thinker/tryer spaces.
This DCN Chat is to offer a space to talk about experiences. This is not an educational event and rather, is offered as a peer-support opportunity.
Members and non-members
Online
Jun
13
Workshop: Continuing the Conversation
Workshop for parents of donor conceived children aged **10-20 years.**
Do you find the idea of your child connecting with their donor or half-siblings a daunting prospect? Perhaps you’re unsure how to raise the topic with them, or youโd value a safe space to explore what it might mean if – or when – they choose to make contact?
Our new Continuing the Conversation workshop offers just that: a supportive space to think about the future, consider the possible implications, and build confidence in navigating these conversations with your child. It is suitable regardless of whether you used an anonymous, ID release or known donor, although the conversations might be different, of course.
**At this event, you will:**
* Think about the future and what might unfold for you and your child if and when they want to make contact with genetic connections
* Build confidence in having conversations about the donor and genetic relatives.
**The workshop will enable you to:**
* Consider the options available to you and your child โ gain an understanding of the options available for accessing information about your donor and your childโs half siblings, whether you had treatment in the UK or overseas
* Share common hopes and fears that parents experience when their child talks about the donor
* Learn about how and when you might raise the topic with your child
* Think through what questions your child might have and what support they might need
* Connect with other parents of donor conceived children
* Be ready for the wide range of feelings your child might have, how they might differ from your own, and how they might change over time.
* Gain knowledge and confidence to support you and your child in decision making.
**Who is it for?**
This workshop is specially designed for parents of donor conceived children aged 10-20 years who have already told their child about being donor conceived. It is suitable for all family types and is equally appropriate whether your treatment took place in the UK or abroad.
**Highlights include:**
* Small group discussions with others to discuss feelings and experiences
* Hear donor conceived people talking about feelings towards genetic connections
* Session with practical tips on starting and continuing the conversation with your child
* Hosted by three extremely experienced facilitators who are parents of donor conceived people
* Session on research findings on donor conceived people connecting with genetic relatives
* Brief overview of ways to find information for future self-investigation.
**What the workshop wonโt do:**
* Help you tell for the first time: This workshop is designed for parents who have already told their child about their origins and we therefore do not cover telling your child for the first time. If you have not yet begun that initial conversation, our Telling & Talking pages have information you may find helpful to get started.ย
* Provide detailed information on ways to find genetic relatives: we will tell you the essentials of what is possible but this workshop is not a how-to guide on connecting with genetic relatives.
* Tell you *why* you should look for genetic connections: We are not offering this programme to encourage you to connect with the donor โ that is always a decision for you and your family. Rather, we want to help you think about the implications for your child and for yourself if and when they seek to make contact.
Some quotes from attendees:
*”It was the right approach and level of info. Informal, with structure – not stuffy!”*
*”It was really good to be able to take some space to listen to views, hear information and be prodded to think about things that inevitably just become part of the background of wider family life.”*
This workshop has been made possible by funding from the European Sperm Bank and the Young Adults Study and we are enormously grateful for their support. We also allocated the money we raised from our 2025 Appeal towards this project, including the match funding from the London Sperm Bank. Thanks go to all our donors and members for contributing and enabling us to support our community in continuing important family conversations.
Member event
In person
Jun
13
Bromley DCN meetup
Join the Bromley group for its next meetup on:
Saturday 13 June
3-5pm
Kelsey Park, Beckenham BR3 6QH
Member event
In person
Jun
14
West London meetup
Come along to join the next meetup for members in West London
on Sunday 14th June at Ravenscourt Park.
Members in all family circumstances are warmly welcome as well thinkers & triers!
Local group coordinator, Chloe, solo mom of 2 year old Lily, will be there to welcome you and the families will have a chance to meet.
Member event
In person
Jun
14
Kent – Summer picnic
Join the Kent group for their next in person meetup at Mote park.
Hope to see you there – all welcome, at any stage!!!
Further details to be added closer to date.
Member event
Online
Jun
15
Miscarriage or other significant challenges during treatment with donor gametes
This DCN chat specifically for members who have experienced miscarriage following donor conception or have come up against other significant challenges which have resulted in multiple failed DC attempts.
In recognition of the particularly sensitive nature of this topic, the chat/group will be facilitated by Julie, one of our DCN Professional Members, who is a counsellor experienced in working with fertility issues and donor conception. However, like other DCN chats, it is intended to offer an opportunity to share experiences, feelings and challenges with a view to creating a mutually supportive space.
Member event
Online
Jun
30
Parents with children ages 13 – 18 Couples (heterosexual and same-sex)
You are invited to join us for a conversation for parents to children children ages approx. 13-18 or approximately. Members in same-sex couples and heterosexual couples are particularly invited. This is a place of peer support, whatever stage you are at of ‘telling’, you are very welcome to join the conversation and benefit from the experience and connections on offer.
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Sarah, mum to adult twins, conceived with 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.
Member event
In person
Jul
3
Yorkshire – Camping trip
Invitation from the event organiser:
The Yorkshire branch of the DCN are coming together for a camping w/e for 2 nights – on Friday 3nd July, at Masons Campsite, Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales.
There are many regular attenders as weโve been coming together for our camping w/e for many years now but we really welcome new members. Itโs a lovely campsite by the river with lots of space so bikes, swimming togs and wetsuits all welcome. Families with children young and older are warmly invited.
Member event
Online
Aug
12
Half sibling discussion
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing the pros and cons of taking steps to identify genetic siblings. We will offer a space to deliberate about the merits and pitfalls of this and what possible implications doing so/or not do so might have on you and your child. The chat will be facilitated by Adrienne, who is a solo mum with a child born in 2020. This forum is for discussing the topic, rather than a ‘how to’.
** Becuase of the nature of the conversation we ask that participants are particularly careful not to share identifying details of their donor.
Member event
Online
Oct
14
Half sibling discussion
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing the pros and cons of taking steps to identify genetic siblings. We will offer a space to deliberate about the merits and pitfalls of this and what possible implications doing so/or not do so might have on you and your child. The chat will be facilitated by Adrienne, who is a solo mum with a child born in 2020. This forum is for discussing the topic, rather than a ‘how to’.
** Becuase of the nature of the conversation we ask that participants are particularly careful not to share identifying details of their donor.
Members and non-members
Online
Oct
17
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 youโre 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 couplesโ workshops have a small number of places for pregnant women.
Members and non-members
In person
Nov
21
Getting Started
Event for prospective parents thinking about using egg, sperm or embryo donation.
If youโre thinking about using donor conception, you probably have lots of questions. This event is the perfect place to start getting answers. Join us and hear from:
* __An embryologist__ from a UK clinic giving a really informative overview of the medical side of things. We always get fantastic feedback about this session, which provides an essential foundation with lots of time for questions.
* __Donor conceived people__ talking about their experiences. How do the children feel? We know this is something lots of prospective parents wonder about. This event provides a rare opportunity to hear from them in person and ask questions. Not to be missed!
* __Parents__ talking through their decision-making and describing family life once children arrive. Nothing beats hearing from people with real life experience.
๐ช๐ต๐ผ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ? This event is suitable for everyone at the start of their donor conception journey, for same-sex and heterosexual couples and for those planning to become single parents. It’s a friendly, inclusive chance to meet others at a similar stage in a relaxed environment at this in-person event.
๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น: The full day costs just ยฃ80 per person or ยฃ140 per couple when booked before 22 October (ยฃ95 and ยฃ170 after that date) and the 11am start time makes it easy to get to Waterloo and home in a day. This event is a Donor Conception Network event so you can rest assured that all information will be impartial and based on our experience as a charity working with donor conception families for the past 30+ years.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐’๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ?
You can find the full programme with timings below.
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ธ
The ticket price includes tea, coffee and cake but not lunch; this helps us keep costs down and means you can choose and order whatever you’d like separately. You can find the pub’s menu here: https://www.thehercules.co.uk/food/menus. You are also free to bring some lunch of course but we hope you’ll stay with us during the break as it will be a great opportunity to chat with other attendees on dedicated tables by family and donation type. Sharing time with others on a similar journey to yourself can be incredibly valuable.
Member event
Online
Dec
9
Half sibling discussion
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing the pros and cons of taking steps to identify genetic siblings. We will offer a space to deliberate about the merits and pitfalls of this and what possible implications doing so/or not do so might have on you and your child. The chat will be facilitated by Adrienne, who is a solo mum with a child born in 2020. This forum is for discussing the topic, rather than a ‘how to’.
** Becuase of the nature of the conversation we ask that participants are particularly careful not to share identifying details of their donor.
Member event
Online
Feb
10
Half sibling discussion
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing the pros and cons of taking steps to identify genetic siblings. We will offer a space to deliberate about the merits and pitfalls of this and what possible implications doing so/or not do so might have on you and your child. The chat will be facilitated by Adrienne, who is a solo mum with a child born in 2020. This forum is for discussing the topic, rather than a ‘how to’.
** Becuase of the nature of the conversation we ask that participants are particularly careful not to share identifying details of their donor.
Member event
Online
Apr
14
Half sibling discussion
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing the pros and cons of taking steps to identify genetic siblings. We will offer a space to deliberate about the merits and pitfalls of this and what possible implications doing so/or not do so might have on you and your child. The chat will be facilitated by Adrienne, who is a solo mum with a child born in 2020. This forum is for discussing the topic, rather than a ‘how to’.
** Becuase of the nature of the conversation we ask that participants are particularly careful not to share identifying details of their donor.
Member event
Online
Jun
9
Half sibling discussion
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing the pros and cons of taking steps to identify genetic siblings. We will offer a space to deliberate about the merits and pitfalls of this and what possible implications doing so/or not do so might have on you and your child. The chat will be facilitated by Adrienne, who is a solo mum with a child born in 2020. This forum is for discussing the topic, rather than a ‘how to’.
** Becuase of the nature of the conversation we ask that participants are particularly careful not to share identifying details of their donor.
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