Studies on this topic convey a constant concern that current donor conception systems do not fully protect the rights and interests of all parties, particularly in relation to access to information, transparency, and fairness, and that stronger ethical frameworks and accountability measures are needed. The literature combines legal and ethical analysis with some insights from stakeholders, allowing for a detailed understanding of ethical tensions and real-world implications.
Overall, the literature is strong in highlighting structural and ethical issues and offering practical recommendations, but is limited by a lack of data based on people’s experiences, reliance on normative arguments (claims about what should happen, based on beliefs about what is right or fair), and relatively limited insights into the full range of lived experiences across diverse groups.
Main Papers
Paper 1
Why UK Laws on Donor Conception Need Updating in the Age of DNA Testing
Authors: Redhead, C., Barker, N., Fox, M., Frith, L. 2025
Key Words: donor conception law, UK policy, Warnock Report, anonymity, genetic testing, donor siblings, legal reform, ethics, counselling, family limits, HFEA
Aim: To examine whether current UK laws on donor conception are still suitable today, and to argue for reforms based on social and technological changes.
Findings: The authors argue that current UK laws are outdated, especially due to DNA testing and changing ideas of family, and that reforms are needed to improve information-sharing, support systems, and regulation of donor conception.
Participants: N/A
Methodology: The paper combines legal analysis with examples from interviews and stakeholder workshops (e.g. the ConnecteDNA project) to explore how current laws affect people involved in donor conception.
Paper 2
Why UK Laws on Donor Anonymity Need to Change in the Age of DNA Testing
Authors: Redhead, C., Frith, L. 2024
Key Words: donor conception, DNA testing, donor anonymity, procedural justice, law reform, identity rights, UK policy, HFEA
Aim: To argue for reform of UK donor conception laws by examining how DNA testing and current legal processes unfairly restrict donor conceived people’s access to information about their genetic origins.
Findings: The paper argues that current UK donor conception laws are outdated and unjust, particularly in the context of DNA testing, and should be reformed to improve access to donor information.
Participants: N/A
Methodology: Theoretical and legal analysis of whether existing legislation on donor anonymity/identifiability is perceived as fair, respectful, and inclusive and/or whether it creates harm that occurs gradually and often invisibly over time. Supported by in-depth interview data from the ConnecteDNA project.
Paper 3
What Do UK Egg and Sperm Donors Think About Identity-Release Donation?
Authors: Gilman, L. 2016
Key Words: gamete donation, identity-release, donors, UK policy, ethics, donor-offspring contact, altruism, donor motivations
Aim: To explore how UK identity-release gamete donors understand and experience donation, and what this means for policy and practice.
Findings: Donors generally supported identity-release policies and viewed donation as an altruistic act, while navigating complex expectations around their role in relation to recipients and donor-conceived offspring.
Participants: 24 gamete donors (egg donors, sperm donors, known donors, altruistic donors, and egg-shares): 8 men, 16 women. All donated after 2005 (identity-release system). 20 clinic staff also interviewed observations in 2 fertility clinics.
Methodology: In-depth interviews with donors, alongside observations and staff interviews in fertility clinics, to understand donors’ experiences and perspectives.
Paper 4
Why the UK Birth Certificate System Should Include Information About Donor Conception
Authors: Crawshaw, M., Blyth, E., Feast, J. 2017
Key Words: birth registration, donor conception, UK law, identity rights, genetic origins, policy reform, ethics, HFEA
Aim: To evaluate whether the UK birth registration system adequately supports people born through donor conception and to propose reforms to improve access to information about their origins.
Findings: The current UK birth registration system does not adequately support Donor Conceived People’s right to know their genetic origins and requires reform to improve access to this information.
Participants: N/A
Methodology: The paper analyses current UK birth registration laws and policies, and uses existing research and legal frameworks to propose a model for reform that better reflects genetic and gestational parentage.
Additional Papers where ethical practices and accountability is referenced but not a main focus
Paper 5: How At-Home DNA Tests Are Changing What People Find Out About Donor Conception
Paper 6: How UK Policies Shape What People Are Told About Donor Conception – and What Is Left Out
Paper 7: How Effective Is DNA Testing in Helping People in the UK and Ireland Find Their Biological Parents?
Paper 8: Should Donor-Conceived Children Be Told Who Their Donor Is at Birth Instead of at 18?
Paper 9: How DNA Testing Is Changing Family Relationships for Donor-Conceived People
Paper 10: How Donor-Conceived Young Adults in the UK Feel About Using DNA Testing
Paper 11: What Support Do People Need When Using DNA Services to Find Donor Relatives?
Paper 12: When Should People Be Allowed to Change Their Mind About Using Donated Eggs, Sperm, or Embryos?
Paper 13: Are UK Fertility Rules Pushing Women to Find Sperm Donors Online Instead of Using Clinics?
Huge thanks to Xinia for putting this page together!