Sperm Donors, Known

For a complex range of reasons, which may vary by cultural context, lesbians often prefer to conceive using sperm from known donors. A known sperm donor provides his sperm to a clinic or person with the understanding that he will be either identifiable in the future to any children born or known to the children in a social sense. Donors whose identities are known to clinics and who are willing to have their identities released to donor sperm recipients at some point in the future (e.g., when a child turns 18) are usually referred to as “identity-release” donors. Identity-release donors are now mandated by law in Sweden, some Australian states, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Finland due to concerns about children’s entitlements ...