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Donor Insemination: Telling Children About Their Origins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2000

Myra Hunter
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH
Natasha Salter-Ling
Affiliation:
Sub-Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT
Lesley Glover
Affiliation:
Sub-Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT
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Abstract

Despite growing discussion of the potential benefits of openness in relation to children conceived by donated gametes, the majority of parents do not intend to tell a future child about his/her origins. As a result little is actually known about the experiences and concerns of families who do choose openness. This is a descriptive study of 83 DI Network members who did intend to or had told a child conceived, using donor insemination, about his/her origins. Quantitative and qualitative data focused on their concerns and experiences of telling. Health professionals face the challenge of providing the opportunity for discussion of these issues both before treatment and afterwards during childhood.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© 2000 Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry

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