The DIANZ team presented the survey results at the 2025 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) annual meeting in Paris, France.
Results will also soon be published – stay tuned for more information !
Preliminary results
The results presented at the ESHRE 2025 conference can be found below:
- Of 1,317 survey invitations, 381 responses were received, with 374 responses included in data analysis (response rate 28.4%).
- Half of the parents used a clinic-recruited donor; the remaining largely used a friend/family member.
- Most parents (86%) had disclosed to their child that they were DC, and a further 11.5% of parents planned to but had not yet disclosed.
- The average age of the child at the time of disclosure was 6.6 years.
- Two-parent gay/lesbian families were more likely to have disclosed.
- No significant differences in disclosure across donor (clinic/family/friend) or donation type (egg, sperm) were noted.
- 23% of parents had at least some concerns about disclosure/DC and one third had many concerns.
- 25% of parents reported receiving an ambivalent or negative reaction from their child on disclosure.
- 15% of parents had either mixed feelings or felt uncomfortable/distressed about disclosure.
- Most parents (71%) had not received support prior to disclosure.
- 47% reported they were in some form of contact with donors and did not need assistance with linking. However, 25% of those using clinic donors wanted support for linking, 27% were unsure, and 4% wanted additional assistance.
- Most parents (85%) were aware of identity release legislation principles, although 33% of those without identifying information were not aware, and 26% were unsure, of where or when to access information.
