Choosing between known and identity-release donors

A known donor is someone whose identity is already known to the recipient. An identity-release donor agrees to information being available under a program’s rules, often when a donor-conceived person reaches a specified age. Rules depend on the country and program.

A donor described as anonymous may not remain unidentifiable. Consumer DNA testing and online family connections mean permanent anonymity cannot be promised.

Known donation does not remove the need for medical evaluation, infectious-disease screening, relevant genetic assessment and counseling. Ask how donor and recipient genetic results are considered together.

Discuss expectations for contact, boundaries, information updates and relationships before treatment. Counseling can help recipients and donors explore the long-term implications without assuming there is one correct family arrangement.

Ask how medical information is updated, how records are retained and what support is available to donor-conceived people. Obtain appropriate legal advice; clinic consent forms alone may not settle parental rights.