Egg donor perspectives on genetic connections
Good donors, bad donors and oddities in the family tree: genomics, donation and reproductive citizenship in Finnish egg donor accounts (Tammi, 2024)
Tammi, R., & Homanen, R. (2024). Good donors, bad donors and oddities in the family tree: genomics, donation and reproductive citizenship in Finnish egg donor accounts. BioSocieties. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41292-024-00345-y
Geographic Region: Finland
Research Question: How do egg donors in Finland navigate and enact their reproductive citizenship through their roles, responsibilities, and rights, particularly in relation to genetic connections with donor offspring?
Design: Qualitative research study using in-depth interviews conducted 2019-2020. Data analyzed using thematic coding with Atlas.ti software.
Sample: 23 egg donors aged 20-44 years who donated at private Finnish fertility clinics. Number of donations ranged from 1-5 (one donor was in first cycle). 13 donors had no children of their own, 10 had one or more children. Three donors made donations before 2007 legislation (anonymous donors).
Key Findings
Donors had mixed feelings about genetic connections. They tried to downplay their genetic link to donor-conceived children, but they also recognized these genetic connections matter, especially for medical reasons. Many donors expressed curiosity about potential resemblances while trying to maintain emotional distance.
Health and medical screening created anxiety. Donors worried about being "healthy enough" to donate and felt pressure to have "good genes". Some feared being rejected from donation programs. Some donors questioned the medical screening process. Some saw it as a form of genetic discrimination.
Donors struggled to balance competing responsibilities. They wanted to respect the boundaries of recipient families, but they also felt responsible for being available to donor-conceived children who might want contact. They intended to try to be available without overstepping their role.
Donors developed different ways to think about their role. Some saw themselves as like a "godmother" or "family friend". Others viewed themselves as an "interesting oddity" in the family tree. Most tried to avoid seeing themselves as parents. Some saw donation as fulfilling their own reproductive potential.
Limitations: Study only included successful donors, not those rejected from programs. Focus on private clinic donors only.
Applications: Provides insight into donor perspectives on genetic connections.
Funding Source: Kone Foundation, Academy of Finland
Lead Author: Ronja Tammi is a Doctoral Researcher in Sociology at University of Helsinki studying ethical practices of tissue donation in Finland, analyzing egg, blood and corneal donation and tissue management practices.
Regulatory Context:
Finland operates under the Act on Assisted Fertility Treatments (1237/2006) which requires donor identity registration, prohibits anonymous donation, and bans payment for gametes.
Donor-conceived people can access donor information at age 18.