Study reveals key differences in how egg and sperm donors describe themselves
A comparative study of sperm and egg donors' personal descriptions and goodwill messages. (Tohme, 2024)
Tohme, N., Cutting, R., Gürtin, Z., & Jadva, V. (2024). A comparative study of sperm and egg donors' personal descriptions and goodwill messages. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 48(1), 103410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103410
Geographic Region: United Kingdom
Research Question: What information do sperm donors and egg donors include in their personal descriptions and goodwill messages?
Design: Qualitative content analysis of forms. Statistical analysis of categorical data using chi-squared tests.
Sample Characteristics: 131 donor information forms (76 egg donors, 55 sperm donors) completed between 2011-2021. All donors were identity-release donors under UK regulations. A large proportion of sperm donors were from overseas (US and Denmark), while egg donors were mainly from the UK.
Key Findings:
Egg donors wrote longer goodwill messages than sperm donors but were less likely to provide personal descriptions.
Sperm donors were more likely to describe themselves through athleticism and personality traits.
Education was the most commonly mentioned characteristic by both donor types.
Sperm donors were more likely to include advice in their goodwill messages.
Egg donors were more likely to mention motivations involving helping others.
Both donor types predominantly expressed good wishes for recipients and children.
Only about 25% of donors mentioned potential future contact in their messages.
Limitations: Variation in donor information forms between different clinics and countries. Social desirability may have influenced reported motivations.
Applications: The findings point to a need to improve the support and guidance provided by clinics and sperm/egg banks to better support donors with completing. donor information forms to improve consistency in the amount of information provided.
Funding Source: Not stated
Lead Author: Nayla Tohme holds a Master of Science in Women's Health from University College London and works as a patient engagement officer at the London Egg Bank, focusing on gamete donation research in the UK.
Regulatory Context:
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) serves as independent regulator overseeing fertility treatment and research using human embryos. It was established by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and amended in 2008.
Fertility treatment is provided at both NHS and private licensed clinics. Single women, female same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples all have equal legal access to fertility treatments, including donor conception. Since 2013, all women qualify for fertility services regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.
Donor anonymity law changed in 2005. Donors who registered after April 1, 2005 must be identifiable. Donor-conceived individuals born from donations after this date can request identifying information (name, date of birth, town of birth, last known address) once they turn 18. For those conceived before April 2005, donors are anonymous unless they have chosen to re-register as identifiable.
If both the donor-conceived person and their half-sibling(s) are on the HFEA Register and request information, the HFEA can tell them whether they’re genetically related. Anyone over 16 can ask the HFEA this question.
The 10-family limit restricts the number of families that can be created from a single donor at UK licensed clinics; this limit applies to both UK donors and imported donor sperm.
Donors can only be compensated for verified expenses: £750 per cycle for egg donors and £35 per clinic visit for sperm donors. Only altruistic donation is permitted.