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Linking donors and families

Have you been a donor; someone conceived at Fertility Associates via donor egg, sperm or embryo; or are you a donor-conceived person?

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Ask us for information

Our team of experienced coordinators and counsellors help donors, children and families exchange information. This can range from the briefest of details to meeting in person. We have 2 types of donor linking:

  • Donor updates: donors can update and request information
  • Donor connections: parents and children can request information or ask to connect with their donor.
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Donor updates: for the donors

You may have been an egg, sperm or embryo donor with Fertility Associates in the past and lost contact with us. Now is a great time to reconnect and let us know where you are. This helps if you are interested in hearing about the outcome of your donation OR if the children or families you have donated to have any questions or requests.

We have a lot of experience helping donors, children and families swap information, which can range from the briefest of details to people meeting.

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Donor connections: find out about your donor

As part of our service to donors and children born through donor programmes, we offer donor linking, a programme where we can link recipients or their children with their donors.

Contact between recipients, donor-conceived persons and donors can vary depending on the wishes of those involved, ranging from disclosure of limited information; personal or medical information; to occasional email communication; to forming a friendship. We recommend counselling at this time to help in to exchanging information.

  • For parents of donor-conceived children: it is common for parents of a donor-conceived child to want to learn more about the person who shares some of their child’s genetic material. Parents don't need to wait until their child is 18 years old to seek information about their donor.

Some parents and children ask if they can communicate with the donor and sometimes enjoy sending letters and photographs.

  • For people who are donor-conceived: there are thousands of people in the world that were conceived with the help of donor sperm, eggs, or embryos. You may have grown up knowing you were donor-conceived, or you may have recently found out. It is natural for many donor-conceived people to want to know more about their donor and/or other people born from the same donor and, in some cases, to want to meet them.

Fertility Associates is here to support you. Our experienced counsellors understand the issues for donor-conceived people. They are neutral, respectful of people’s choices and opinions, and maintain privacy at all times.

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More information

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When to seek advice early

  • If you have polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, or have been through a cancer diagnosis; we recommend you get in touch quickly so we can talk you through all your options and give you the greatest possible chance of success.
  • If you’re a single woman considering motherhood in the future; it’s best to approach us early and consider egg freezing as this can be an option for you while you have a higher ovarian reserve and healthier eggs.

Woman’s BMI below 19

Even in these modern times, nature knows best. If a woman's BMI falls below 19, the body senses famine and ovulation is switched off to prevent the risk of having a baby with malnutrition. Excessive exercise can reduce body fat and increase muscle mass to a point where periods cease for the same reason. Risk of miscarriage is also increased in women with a low BMI.

Being underweight

If a woman's BMI falls below 19, the body senses famine and ovulation is switched off to prevent the risk of having a baby with malnutrition. Excessive exercise can reduce body fat and increase muscle mass to a point where periods cease for the same reason. Risk of miscarriage is also increased in women with a low BMI.

BMI’s greater than 30

This can reduce fertility by 50%. Pregnancy for women with a 30+ BMI is often associated with problems such as maternal diabetes, high blood pressure, big babies and increased risk of caesarean section.

Add your height and weight to calculate your BMI