“Navigating My Choices in Gamete Donation” webinar – exploaring diverse perspectives

The webinar titled “Navigating My Choices in Gamete Donation” held during European Fertility Week 2024 focused on crucial topics for those considering or opting for gamete donation treatments. Hosted by Fertility Europe, this session featured insights from prominent speakers on discrepancies in current regulations across Europe, family dynamics, and the perspectives of non-genetic parents. It also touched on donor anonymity in the era of the growing popularity of ancestry genetic testing and shed light on an issue of the number of families using the gamete of one donor. We also shared preliminary findings from recent patient surveys on attitudes toward gamete donation.

Speaker Highlights

The webinar was opened and beautifully moderated by Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen, the General Director of Fertility Europe. Our grand speakers presented on the following:

• Anita Fincham (Fertility Europe) opened the webinar with an overview of European regulations on gamete donation, setting the context for the current state and future of fertility treatments across EU countries.
• Nina Barnsley (Donor Conception Network, UK) discussed the importance of honesty within families who use gamete donation, focusing on how transparency can build trust and positively impact children’s sense of identity.
• Debbie Kennett (University College London, UK) presented on the trend of “donor anonymity fading away.” She explained how the growing popularity of ancestry testing affects the anonymity of donors which increasingly moves us toward non-anonymous donation even without legal provisions.
• Jackson Kirkman-Brown (Birmingham Women’s Fertility Centre, UK) addressed the regulatory caps on the number of children that can be conceived from a single donor’s gametes – a measure aimed at balancing the availability of donor gametes with ethical and genetic diversity considerations.
• Maciej Śmiechowski (Nasz Bocian, Poland) addressed the perspective of non-genetic parents, sharing insights on the experiences of parents raising donor-conceived children, the support they may need and the considerations to take into account. 
• Monika Bulmanska-Wingett (Fertility Europe) shared results from a recent patient survey on attitudes toward gamete donation, highlighting patient preferences and concerns, especially regarding anonymity and the emotional implications of donor conception.

Q&A and Discussion

An interactive Q&A session allowed attendees to engage with the speakers, clarifying questions about practical choices, the impact of changing regulations, and resources for support.

Watch the Webinar

You can view the recorded session below

For any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Fertility Europe at office@fertilityeurope.eu

This event offered a valuable resource for anyone navigating the complexities of gamete donation, bringing together expertise and patient perspectives to foster informed, supportive choices.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers for sharing their invaluable knowledge and expertise with our community. Thank you!