Donor-conceived people: information about donor conceived genetic siblings
The egg or sperm donor who is your genetic parent may also have donated eggs or sperm to other families. UK law provides that each donor can donate to up to ten different families, and that each family can have more than one child using the same donor. Details of any donor-conceived half siblings you have will be held on the HFEA Register of Information.
As from 1 October 2009, donor-conceived people have a legal right to request information about their genetic siblings. The new rights apply only in respect of your genetic siblings who are donor-conceived i.e. not to the donor’s own children whose birth details are unlikely to be recorded on the HFEA Register of Information.
These rights to information about siblings apply to all donor-conceived people conceived since 1 August 1991, and not just those who are able to access identifying information about their donors.
Information about donor conceived siblings: non identifying information
Once you reach the age of 16, you will be able to apply to the HFEA to find out whether you have any donor-conceived genetic half siblings. The HFEA will tell you how many siblings you have, whether they are boys or girls and the year in which they were born.
It is currently the practice of the HFEA to release this information to parents, so you may be able to find out this limited information about your siblings even before you reach the age of 16 if your parents request it for you.
Information about donor conceived siblings: identifying information
Once you reach the age of 18, you will be able to apply to the HFEA for contact details for your donor-conceived genetic half siblings.
The HFEA will only release details for any siblings who are over 18 and have already consented to the release of their information.
Counselling is likely to be offered to you both before you are put in touch with each other.
Your parents cannot request identifying information about siblings for you before you are 18.
