A rainbow family's search for a sperm donor: from grey market to sperm bank

The German-English couple Hayley and Katja Schönberg have been on an eventful journey before they were able to welcome their little daughter. A journey with detours into a world they knew nothing about: the grey market for sperm donation.

October 14, 20215 min. read

Matilde Hansen

Customer stories

A rainbow family's search for a sperm donor: from grey market to sperm bank

Oct 14, 20215 min. read

Matilde Hansen

Counselling

Having trouble getting pregnant? Here's how to cope with stress, jealousy, grief and anxiety while in fertility treatment

Jul 08, 20214 min. read

Helle Tyllesen

At Fertility Care Institute, counsellors often experience that women and men are surprised at how mentally taxing it is to be in fertility treatment. The good news? These reactions are completely normal. Psychotherapist and fertility counsellor Mille Duzenius advises men and women to remember self-care and to be realistic.

Helle Tyllesen

Stories

Kristoffer is infertile: “My world fell apart when they told me”

Jun 10, 20215 min. read

Helle Tyllesen

What happens when a man finds out he is infertile? In particular, a man who was so ready to realise his dream of having children? For Kristoffer Vitting-Seerup, it is the story of completely breaking down, picking himself back up and - after major considerations - choosing a sperm donor, so little Meta could be born.

Helle Tyllesen

Customer stories

Solo mum Pia chose the same sperm donor for all of her children

May 26, 20214 min. read

Helle Tyllesen

Pia Jensen from Copenhagen, Denmark, chose the same donor for her children – and thus, Anna became a big sister to not just one but two full siblings. This was possible because she chose to set up a storage solution holding donor sperm for more than one course of treatment at the sperm bank. The benefits include the possibility for your child to have a full brother or sister.

Helle Tyllesen

Stories

Donor child: “I don’t need a relationship with my sperm donor”

May 04, 20215 min. read

Helle Tyllesen

There was no drama involved for Dina Winther Hansen when the pieces fell into place, and she understood that she was a donor child. As she says: “There is so much that matters more. Being a donor child is not something that takes up my every day, and it does not define my life.”

Helle Tyllesen

Personal stories

Proud sperm donor: the primary thing for me is helping others

Apr 12, 20214 min. read

Helle Tyllesen

Only around seven percent of men who apply to become sperm donors are approved to join the donor programme. Twenty-two-year-old Peter is one of them. Here he shares his thoughts on donating sperm, including how his family reacted, his reasons for becoming an open donor and what happens if he changes his mind later?

Helle Tyllesen

Here's How to Tell the World that You're a Solo Mum

Apr 03, 20209 min. read

Helle Tyllesen

You might already know how to talk to your child about being donor-conceived, but how do you speak to strangers and colleagues about it? Psychologist Henriette Cranil gives you her best advice for the conversations to come.

Helle Tyllesen

Life as a parent

Children’s Books about Donor Conception and Modern Families

Feb 03, 20203 min. read

Helle Tyllesen

Telling your child that he or she is donor-conceived can seem a little overwhelming. Where do you start? What are the right words to use? Don't worry, there are plenty of children’s books that lend a hand with explaining it all.

Helle Tyllesen

Life as a parent

Telling Your Child That They're Donor-Conceived: The Full Guide to Parents

Oct 08, 20209 min. read

Matilde Hansen

Do you wonder when and how to tell your child that he or she is donor-conceived? In this blog post, we give advice on how to tell your child about their donor conception including what to say when.

Matilde Hansen

Solo motherhood

Having a Baby on Your Own? 7 Survival Tips for Single Mothers by Choice

If you’re considering becoming a solo mum, you’re probably asking yourself questions like 'how will I cope with years of interrupted sleep?' Or, 'what about male role models?' Here's our guide to making life as a single mother by choice as easy as possible.

September 12, 20209 min. read

Matilde Hansen

Customer stories