Is Egg Donation Anonymous Still?
What egg donor anonymity means in the age of home DNA testing
The increasing popularity of at-home DNA testing raises the question: can egg donation still be anonymous? As with everything related to fertility, the answer is complex. Read on to learn about the options for anonymity in modern egg donation.
How Does Egg Donor Anonymity Work?
Traditionally, there are three types of egg donor situations:
Non-directed, or “anonymous”: ex. Donors selected through an egg bank. The donor’s profile contains no identifying information, and the donor and intended parent(s) are never in contact with each other (this is the most common donor arrangement)
Directed, or “known”: ex. a friend or family member who has agreed to donate eggs to the intended parent(s)
Semi-anonymous or semi-open: the donor and intended parent(s) share limited personal information with each other (ex. first names). This arrangement has the possibility for future contact if both parties agree, but is not a requirement.
Why Aren’t Anonymous Egg Donors Really Anonymous?
Historically, donation agencies have told egg donors their donations would be fully anonymous. You may have noticed that we don’t use that language at SIMPLIFY. That’s because in the age of at-home DNA testing, we can no longer completely guarantee anonymity for egg donors - no one can.
In non-directed donations, a fertility program, donor egg agency or egg bank commits to safeguarding the personal information of donors and intended parents and to maintaining anonymity throughout the process. However, once a donor-conceived child becomes an adult, they may choose to seek additional information about their biological origins through DNA testing or the Donor Sibling Registry. If a donor or any of their relatives have also participated in home DNA testing, then any children conceived from the donated eggs may be able to identify their donor.
What Does this Mean for Egg Donor Anonymity?
So what does this mean for potential egg donors and intended parents considering egg donation? Intended parents and donors in the SIMPLIFY program are carefully counseled to respect each other’s privacy. In non-directed donations such as an egg bank, the donor is not trying to enlarge their own family, and the intended parents are only trying to start their own. Even though complete anonymity may be affected by at-home genetic testing, respect for privacy may be key to the continued success of donor egg services.
For Intended Parents
Talk with your doctors and the team at your egg bank about your questions or concerns regarding egg donation anonymity
Consider that your child will be an adult with their own priorities and questions, and the right to know about their genetic medical and family history.
Remember that you will always be your child’s parent, no matter how they were conceived or if they have contact with their donor.
For Potential Egg Donors
Talk with the team at the egg bank about your options as a non-directed donor.
Learn about the laws for egg donor identity in the state where you donated your eggs. In Washington state, donor-conceived children can access their donor’s full name and medical history once they turn 18. However, donors can choose to withhold their full name by opting out at the time of donation.
Consider how you feel about the possibility of a person conceived from your donated egg contacting you as an adult. You do not have to respond, of course, but it is possible they might reach out. If you require complete, guaranteed anonymity, then egg donation may not be right for you.
The most important thing to remember, for donors and parents alike, is that the level of anonymity has no impact on legal parental rights. Whether or not the donor is known, or becomes known after the donation, the recipients of donor eggs are the full legal parents of the resulting child.
Navigate Egg Donation Anonymity with SIMPLIFY
Egg donation is a complex process, and anonymity is just one factor. Ultimately, no one can predict what a donor-conceived child will want to do when they become an adult. Egg donors and intended parents make their own decisions about how much information, if any, they wish to share during the donation experience. At SIMPLIFY, we have years of experience helping donors and intended parents navigate this process. Reach out to us today to get the conversation started.