Donor recipient parents

Historically, many donor recipient parents were advised not to tell their children about their donor conception.  DCIS understand that many parents carefully followed that advice.  Now we know it is important to tell children the truth about their donor origins as soon as possible.  If you haven’t already talked to your child, please consider having this conversation, giving them access to information and an opportunity to explore what this might mean for them.

Research overwhelmingly suggests that the sooner donor conceived people are told of their genetic origins, the better able they are to integrate this into their concept of self, with better outcomes. This is also true when sharing any important information with your child that is about them personally, or other important people in their lives. People conceived after December 2004 can access their donor’s identity after they turn 16 years of age. 

In today's world of expanding information technology there are other ways that donor conceived people are finding out about their donor origins. While the current legislation prohibits identifying someone as being a donor or donor conceived, more and more people are using home DNA tests or finding out through other means via social media contact. 

Donor conceived people have a variety of reasons for seeking information and possibly contact with their donor, including a desire to understand and explore their genetic and social history, seeking medical information, as well as curiosity regarding likenesses in physical appearances and interests.  Contact between donor siblings can be a positive and rewarding experience.

Regardless of when you received fertility treatment, DCIS can check sources of information and determine if there is relevant data that can legally be provided to you. 

The treatment register

The WA Department of Health holds records of fertility treatments from April 1993 onwards.  Current legislation enables access to non-identifying information held regarding treatments after 1993.   It is possible that if you received treatment prior to 1993, there may be other donor conceived people who are related to your child that were conceived after 1993 which means information could be available.  Non-identifying information about donors and donor conceived siblings born after 1993 can be applied for at any time.  Identity checks and processing times of several weeks apply for information requests.

Please be aware, information is reported to the Department of Health in yearly intervals; therefore, it is potentially more than 2 years before information regarding a birth outcome can be verified by the Department and provided to DCIS.  DCIS recommends waiting until your child is at least 2 years of age before seeking to match with other relatives. It is also very important if you change your contact details that you advise DCIS so that your information can be updated.

Fertility clinics

Donor recipient parents can apply direct to the fertility clinic where the treatment occurred for access to their treatment records or non-identifying sibling information.  In some instances, clinics may have kept records for treatments that occurred prior to 1993 as this was their usual practice as a health service, although they were not legally required to do so.  Unfortunately, some clinics have closed, and records may have been destroyed or are not available. 

When the Department retrieves information from the Treatment Register, this information is sent to the fertility clinic for verification prior to the report being generated for DCIS.

The DCIS register history

From 2002 - 2018 the WA Department of Health maintained a voluntary register of donors, donor conceived people and donor recipient parents who wished to consent to share their information outside of the legislative framework.  Between 2018 and 2022 Jigsaw DNA Connect (a non-government organisation) was contracted by the department to manage individual applications to match and connect people with their genetic relatives. 

This service is now operated by DCIS and will work to connect historical information with people who consent to apply direct to DCIS.  No information has been deleted from the previous registers.  However, DCIS will require individuals to confirm their identity and update their consent preferences.  Parents can only consent on their child’s behalf to be included on the DCIS register until they are 16 years of age.

Contact between donor related people can be arranged by mutual consent, however confidentiality requirements of the legislation still apply.

If two people who are genetically related have both registered their details, then they are considered a ‘match’. When this happens, DCIS will attempt to confirm the match through the Treatment Register and the fertility clinic where the treatment was undertaken.  Once this has been confirmed, DCIS will contact both parties and discuss with them which details (non-identifying or identifying) they consent in writing to share.  This matching service appointment allows both parties to consider the implications of sharing information, making contact and how they wish to progress a potential relationship.  It is important to note that some people are eager to meet the other person, and some are reluctant or do not want contact.  This service can be provided face-to-face, by video or phone.  Follow up appointments to discuss the outcomes of any contact can also be provided.

When a match can’t be confirmed

If the individuals who registered their details were conceived prior to 1993, DCIS will not be able to confirm they are a match.  This is because the details are not held within the department’s Treatment Register and cannot be verified.  If this situation occurs, DCIS will still contact both parties to discuss what this means.

When no information exists

DCIS understands that it may be difficult for parents whose children were conceived prior to 1993 when no records have been kept.  Fertility clinics are the primary source of information.  As a recipient parent you are able to contact the clinic directly to receive information regarding your treatment and donor code.

Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about their donor conception origin. DCIS can provide you or your adult child counselling regarding the lack of information. 

DCIS is aware that at various times in their child’s life, issues may arise for recipient parents, and you may benefit from a dedicated therapeutic conversation with a suitable professional.  DCIS employs experienced social workers who have a good understanding of the issues affecting recipient parents and are available for brief counselling interventions and referrals to other services.  Please contact DCIS to make an appointment.

If I am a parent of a donor conceived person under 16 years of age, can I receive the donor’s identifying information?

Identifying information can only be received by you if the donor has applied to DCIS and agrees for their information to be shared with you. If your child accesses your donor’s identifying information after they turn 16, this information is given directly to your child.

My donor conceived child has turned 16, will they be removed from the register?

Under the legislation, parents can only give consent for their children’s details to be on the register while they are under 16 years of age.  DCIS will not remove details from the register.  However, the consent will need to be updated by your child, and this can be done by your child filling in and signing their own request to be placed on the register and providing their consent regarding their details that they may wish to share.