Study reveals how donor-conceived families navigate origin stories
Families' experiences of talking about donor-conception: How do caregivers and children feel when they discuss their origin stories? (Navarro, 2024)
Navarro, J. (2024). Families' experiences of talking about donor-conception: How do caregivers and children feel when they discuss their origin stories? [Preprint]. University Alberto Hurtado. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173046967.79999052/v1
Geographic Region: Chile
Research Question: How do families with donor-conceived children experience talking about conception stories and how do both caregivers and children feel during these conversations?
Design: Families recorded natural conversations about origins in 2024. Brief interviews with children conducted by parents. Semi-structured interviews with caregivers. Content analysis using open coding based on grounded theory principles.
Sample: 17 donor-conceived families, including 22 mothers, 4 fathers, and 19 children (11 girls, 8 boys) aged 3-8 years. Family structures included 5 heterosexual families, 6 lesbian families, and 6 single mother families. Donation types included 12 sperm donation, 3 egg donations, and 2 double donation.
Key Findings
Parents approached these conversations in different ways. Some were very comfortable being open about using a donor from the start, while others chose to tell because they worried keeping secrets could harm their children later. Same-sex couples were usually the most comfortable talking about it. The timing of these conversations varied significantly among families, and many initiated discussions around ages 3-4.
Parents weren't usually worried about whether to tell their children - instead, they worried about when was the right time to tell and what words to use. Some parents carefully planned these talks, while others let the conversations happen naturally. Story-telling was a multi-layered process that evolved over time.
Most children had positive feelings about their origin stories. Young children were especially interested in hearing about being in their mother's tummy and about their birth. However, some children also had more difficult feelings. Some felt different from other kids, particularly when they realized not all families were created the same way. A few children expressed sadness about not having a father or felt uncomfortable hearing about donors. The older children (around 7-8 years old) started thinking more deeply about what it meant to be donor-conceived and how it related to who they are.
Limitations: Single country study. Relatively small sample. All families had already decided to disclose. Limited age range of children.
Applications: This study highlights the need to support families in developing communication strategies and recognizes disclosure as ongoing process, not single event. Ssupport should consider cultural context and different family structures.
Funding Source Not specified
Lead Author: Javiera Navarro is the Director of the Master's Program in Relational Clinical Practice with Children and Adolescents at the School of Psychology, Alberto Hurtado University in Chile.
Regulatory Context: Chile has no legislation regulating reproductive technologies and a conservative, Catholic cultural influence.