Getting information about your donor can be an emotional process. Think through how this knowledge could affect you and your family.

For donor-conceived people

• What you can find out about your donor: It’s natural to want to know about your genetic origins. As a donor-conceived person, you’re entitled to know details of your donor and any donor-conceived genetic siblings you may have.
• Get support and advice: Finding out about your donor, and about any donor-conceived genetic siblings you may have, can be an emotional process. We encourage you to undertake this journey with the support of others.
• Apply for information about your donor: Once you have had a chance to think about what it may mean to access information about your donor and/or donor-conceived genetic siblings from the HFEA, you will need to complete a formal application.

For parents of donor-conceived

• Talk to your child about their origins: If your child is donor conceived, telling them about their origins can be a sensitive topic to discuss. However, if done honestly and if discussed at the right time, the issue need not be a difficult one to broach.
• What you can find out about your child’s donor: As you are in the best position to pass information to your children at an age when they can understand it, you are entitled to details of your child’s donor.
• Apply for information about your child’s donor: Once you have had a chance to think about what it may mean to access information about your child’s donor from the HFEA, you will need to complete a formal application.

If you have any questions about applying for donor information, or would like further advice, contact us:

Phone: 020 7291 8200
Email: openingtheregister@hfea.gov.uk

Accessing information about your donor, or donor-conceived genetic siblings can raise unexpected feelings. 

If you do decide to seek information about your donor, think through how having this information might affect you.

...get support & advice