Donor Conception Network

⭐ 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵⭐

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀: 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀

The Thomas Coram Research Unit has recently published a short blog post following its recent TCRU/Coram Annual Lecture. Dr Sophie Zadeh was joined by Naomi Angell, Zoë Lambert and Duncan Fisher for a thoughtful discussion on donor conception, identity and belonging. The piece reflects on storytelling, openness, lived experience and the questions that can remain over time.

🔗 https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/2026/05/21/stories-silences-and-secrets-donor-conception-identity-and-belonging-in-contemporary-families

⭐ This was taken from a previous Friday Bulletin. The Bulletin is a round-up of all the stories that matter about donor conception, and is one of many benefits of DCN membership.

Check out all the great things going on at DCN this month for donor conception families.

Most of our online chats and meet-ups are a benefit of DCN membership, so you won't be able to book onto them if you're not yet a member. The good news is that we offer a monthly membership subscription for just £8 per month (£6 for those on lower incomes) so you don't need to pay for the full year up front. Membership has loads of benefits - as well as the online chats, you have access to 90+ WhatsApp groups, to conferences, weekly e-newsletters, a printed magazine and much more.

Find out how we can support your family - https://dcnetwork.org/membership/why-join

***mdonation ***m

We know that people consider many different routes to donor conception, including finding a s***m donor independently through social media or online communities.

If you’re thinking about this path, having clear information from the start can help you think through the implications for everyone involved, both now and in the future. A child’s conception will be part of their story, and of yours, so having clarity around the donor and your choices is important. The HFEA has released a helpful new FAQ page on informal s***m donation, which you can read here: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/media-centre/faqs-relating-to-unregulated-s***m-donation/

If the news has left you unsure where to turn for support, you may find these organisations helpful:
• The Fertility Alliance
• Fertility Action
• Daisy Network (for women with POI)
• Endometriosis UK
And if your journey involves donor conception, we’re here too 💙