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Linking donors and families

Information for donor-conceived people, their parents and donors

Helpful tools
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Ask us for information

Have you been a donor? Are you someone who was conceived at Fertility Associates via donor egg, donor sperm or embryo - a donor-conceived person? Or are you the parent of someone who was donor conceived?

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 two 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 donor, sperm donor 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 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, donor eggs, or donor 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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The Biological Clock

This tool indicates:

  • Natural conception per month if you have no fertility issues
  • IVF success rate at the same age
  • When to seek help after months of unsuccessful attempts

If you are concerned at any stage – we recommend booking a doctor appointment or a free nurse consultation. The sooner you make a plan the better your chances in the long term.

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.
Set your age and the months you’ve been trying to conceive
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Your chance of having a baby per month for fertile couples
Your chance of having a baby per IVF cycle (if experiencing infertility)

Body Mass Index calculator

Being overweight or underweight can reduce fertility, so it is important to keep your body weight within the normal healthy range.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is an indication of your body weight and can be calculated by dividing weight by height. You should aim for a BMI of between 20 and 25, as this will optimise your chances of conception.

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