Can Egg Donors Remain Anonymous?

Egg donors contribute to family building in a very crucial way, by providing the other half of an embryo’s DNA. Once vetted, depending on the needs of the potential parents, egg donors will sign agreements that bind them to the service they are providing. These agreements not only provide the roles and responsibilities of egg donors, they do the same for the potential parents.

With this in mind, it is important to know that an egg donor can remain anonymous. The option to remain anonymous or not is governed by the type of agreement drawn up between the donor and the recipient. This article will be discussing anonymity for egg donation, and the occasions this may be impacted.

Anonymity Laws and Regulations

Historically, egg donation used to be strictly anonymous.Currently, United States Federal Law does not have unified legislation around egg donor anonymity. This means that individual States are responsible for creating the legislation that regulates the anonymity of egg donors thus anonymity varies from one State to another.

Globally, legislation around egg donor anonymity also varies from one nation to another. There are nations in which egg-donor information is kept strictly confidential. Again, there are other nations that give the right to individuals born from egg donation to seek out their donor’s identity once they are 18 years old. 

Other nations have legislation that allows the release of egg donors to professional healthcare providers. This law is strictly for medical purposes when treatment of individuals conceived from egg donors calls for it. This can be in a case whereby an individual may be undergoing fertility treatments and require a genetic background for their treatment to proceed.

All across the world, people who have been born from egg donation are advocating for more transparency in the access of egg donor information. Services which collect personal data such as Social Media platforms create a space whereby individuals can in a sense ‘join the dots’ in their quest to find out information about their biological parentage. 

How Technology (DNA Testing) Impacts Privacy

The availability of the internet and platforms that assist individuals to trace their ancestry has created a new dynamic in the way information is accessed. Such platforms often require a person to send in a DNA sample which is analysed for specific markers. These markers are then compared against other DNA samples from individuals whose ancestry is known. 

Let us dig a little deeper into this dynamic. During the egg donation process, it is possible that an egg donor donated anonymously. Should the egg donor at a point seek to know their ancestry, they will be required to provide a DNA sample as well as their personal information. Should an individual conceived from the egg donor’s eggs do the same, the egg donor’s identity may be known. 

As you can see, on one hand, we live in a world where there is legislation around the protection of personal data and privacy, yet on the other hand, there is still a probability for personal information to be accessed by third parties. This creates a complicated narrative where multiple parties are challenged with the ethics around the release or withholding of information.

Summary

Egg donors undergo thorough screening to ensure that their eggs are a good option that can be offered to individuals and couples in need of egg donation. On one hand, there is the option for egg donors to remain anonymous in their donation. On the other, there are options for egg donors to be known from the onset, or to have their information available to egg recipients should they wish to make contact in the future.

Such details are established from the onset and are included in the donor-recipient agreement that is signed at the beginning of the egg donation process. In as much as is possible, egg donor agencies seek to match egg donors to recipients who are on the same page. For example, if a donor wants to remain anonymous, their personal information that could identify them is withheld from recipients of their eggs.

While a delicate process to navigate, each donor agency provides anonymity according to State legislation. It may be of value for donors to seek legal counsel regarding anonymity prior to signing their donor-recipient agreements. This will ensure that they understand the implications should they choose not to remain anonymous in their donation. 

If you would like to know more about egg donor anonymity and how egg donor information is provided to recipients, contact San Diego Fertility Center. We are happy to walk with you on your journey through egg donation. Contact us today to find out if you are a candidate for egg donation. 

FAQ

Is egg donation always anonymous?

Egg donations is not always anonymous, althoug it can be. It really depends on the agreement that one signs. Some donors remain anonymous, while others allow future contact.

Can donor-conceived children access information?

If an egg donor’s agreement is for anonymity, donor-conceived children may obtain non-identifiable donor information when they are 18 years old.