- Brits will be able to ask for name, date of birth and last known address.
- In 2030, 11,427 young people will be able to request identification data
People conceived through egg or sperm donation will be able to trace their biological parents starting next month.
Changes to the UK’s donor anonymity law mean that the first adults conceived by donors able to request information about their biological origins will turn 18.
The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said around 30 donor-conceived 18-year-olds will be eligible to find their donor by the end of the year.
The “monumental” changes to donation conditions mean 11,427 young people will be able to request identifying information, such as name, date of birth and last known address, by 2030.
Dr Marta Jansa Pérez, of the British Fertility Society, described it as a “historic” moment.
In 2030, 11,427 young people will be able to request identification data when they turn 18 years old
Since 1991, more than 70,000 donor-conceived children have been born and donor conception currently accounts for 1 in 6 IVF births in the UK and 1 in 170 of all births in the UK.
She said: ‘This is a very important milestone for those people who have been conceived using donor eggs or sperm since 2005, as when they turn 18 they will be able to receive identifiable information about their donors.
‘The British Fertility Society would like to encourage all donors to get back in touch with the clinic where they donated or to contact the HFEA to ensure their contact details are up to date, so that donor-conceived people may have information about their genetic origins. if you wish.’
The law on the disclosure of personal information of a sperm, egg or embryo donor changed in April 2005, when it was considered that everyone has the right to know their genetic history.
HFEA data shows that by the end of 2024, more than 700 donor-conceived people will be able to request identifying information about their donor, if they wish.
It is launching a #WhoIsMyDonor campaign to encourage donors to ensure their details are up to date with those of its clinic as the first young adults request information.
Rachel Cutting, HFEA chief information and compliance officer, said: ‘An egg or sperm donation made 18 years ago might rightly seem like a distant memory to some, and it’s easy to forget to update contact details.
‘However, providing the correct information to the donor-conceived person and notifying them that an application has been submitted can help facilitate successful communication and reduce any emotional impact.
He added: “A quick email or phone call from a donor to the clinic where they donated, or to the HFEA, can make a big difference in the life of a donor-conceived person.”
Since 1991, more than 70,000 donor-conceived children have been born and donor conception currently accounts for 1 in 6 IVF births in the UK and 1 in 170 of all births in the UK.
By 2030, the regulator predicts there will be an average of one or two donor-conceived children in every English state primary school.
Professor Jackson Kirkman-Brown, president of the Association of Clinical and Reproductive Scientists (ARCS), said it was important that those involved took advantage of the support on offer.
He said some people born through donation had been using home ancestry tests to locate their biological family, without having access to such help and information.
‘This is a very important time for young adults who were conceived using donor sperm or eggs. “Many hope to know more about their donors when they turn 18,” she said.
“There are now many other ways a donor can be identified, such as testing for local ancestry, and historical donors will generally not have had information or support on this – so we encourage them to get in touch now and get the guidance , the precise support and information they need. require and deserve.
“Being a donor is an incredible gift and, together with the sector, ARCS wants to recognize and support those who enable people to have the families they want.”
