Donor Conception Support Groups

Mutual support groups whose members are individuals who are part of the donor conception community and have come together for educational and social purposes as well as mutual support. Included are people who are considering whether to conceive using donor sperm, egg or embryo; parents who have children who were conceived using a donor program; child or adult donor offspring; donors; and people who are considering becoming donors. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and provide an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and discuss any of a wide variety of issues which may include making the decision to become a donor, making the decision to use donor conception, choosing a donor, telling others about the donor conception decision, telling donor offspring about their genetic origins (whether, when, why and how), searching for siblings, children or donors with whom there are genetic ties, and understanding the identity issues or other problems that donor offspring might be experiencing. The groups focus on the short and long-term implications of donor conception rather than donor conception strictly as an infertility treatment option.