UK: Young Adults Born Via In Vitro Fertilization Can Know About Their Biological Parents

As the number of babies born via donation of sperm or egg, UK has passed new rights regarding the identification of their biological parents. Earlier in 2005, UK removed the law adhering to the anonymity of the sperm or egg donors.

Babies born via technology can have basic information about their biological parents when they turn 18. The new arrangement was done as the numbers of babies born through this technology increased dramatically over the past years.

As a result of the evolving social norms and attitudes, the donor-conceived babies are not only born to just parents with fertility challenges, but also to single parent (women who are in their late forties or fifties) and lesbian or gay couples as well.

The number of children who will turn 18 this year and will gain right to have information about their biological parents are 30. According to data from Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority”s (HFEA), the number of such children will be 700 by the end of 2024 and by 2030 the number will rise to 11,400, says media report.

Director of UK’s Donor Conception Network, Nina Barnsley speaks about how many among those who have gained the right to know about their biological parents may not be aware of how exactly they were conceived, or may not be aware of such possibilities and some simply may not care.

According to Nina Barnsley, the  young individuals born via In Vitro Fertilization may be busy with catching up their life”s pace and “being donor-conceived may well just be low on the list of interests”. She also added that some parents of such children will be “curious” about the donors for nothing but to “acknowledge their contribution towards helping them make their families”.

Thought donor-conceiving was considered a taboo few years ago, as the time races forward, the notion underwent drastic transformation and is a “widely accepted” form of conceiving a baby.