A look at single fathers' experience with donor conception
Single fathers' experiences of using egg donation and surrogacy to start a family (Jones, 2023)
Jones, C., Jadva, V., Zadeh, S., & Golombok, S. (2023). Single fathers' experiences of using egg donation and surrogacy to start a family. Human Reproduction, 38(10), 1981-1990. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dead152
Geographic Region: Australia, Europe, and North America
Research Question: What are the experiences of single men using egg donation and surrogacy as a route to parenthood?
Design: In-depth semi-structured interviews lasting approximately 2 hours were conducted between 2018-2021. Reflexive thematic analysis and qualitative content analysis completed.
Sample: 21 single fathers (19 gay, 1 heterosexual, 1 asexual) with an average age of 44. 13 fathers had one child, and 8 had two children. All children were aged 6 years or younger. Fathers were mostly white (16) and European.
Key Findings
Most fathers chose identifiable egg donors (62%) over anonymous donors (38%). Of those with identifiable donors, 4 fathers (31%) maintained current contact with the donor, 2 fathers (15%) had some contact after birth but were no longer in contact, and 7 fathers (54%) had no contact despite having identifiable donors.
Those preferring identifiable donors often cited their child's future right to access information about their origins. Some fathers who used anonymous donors expressed regret and mentioned possibly trying to find donor information through other means (like private investigators).
Primary desired characteristics in egg donors were good health (43%), general appearance (43%), and education level (38%).
The relationship with egg donors was generally more distant compared to relationships with surrogates, which aligns with previous research on two-father families through surrogacy.
Most fathers (67%) reported positive relationships with surrogates. Majority (76%) maintained contact with surrogate after birth.
Genetic connection to child was important factor in choosing surrogacy over adoption.
Limitations: Small sample size. Variation between different countries' surrogacy laws may impact experiences. Sample primarily consisted of white, European participants. Focus on early years of parenthood only (children 6 or younger).
Applications: Need for tailored support and counseling for single men
Funding Source: Wellcome Trust (grant number 208013/Z/17/Z)
Lead Author: Catherine Jones is affiliated with the Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at King's College London and the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge.
Regulatory Context: Study participants underwent surrogacy in multiple jurisdictions, including North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, with the US being the most common location (13 of 21 participants). Some countries prohibit surrogacy entirely, while others maintain more permissive frameworks.