European Sperm Bank Blog: Donor Conception Stories and Advice

Donor half-siblings – what should you consider?

Most sperm donors help multiple families. Because of that, many donor-conceived people will have donor half-siblings out there somewhere. As the parent of a donor child, this poses a question; what's the most appropriate way to approach the concept of donor half-siblings with your child?

December 22, 20227 min. read

How to deal with stress, jealousy and anxiety during infertility

Jan 13, 20234 min. read

Many are surprised by how mentally taxing it can be to undergo fertility treatment like IVF or IUI. The good news? It's normal to feel stressed or sad. Here's advice from an experienced counsellor on how to cope emotionally with infertility.

Donor half-siblings – what should you consider?

Dec 22, 20227 min. read

Most sperm donors help multiple families. Because of that, many donor-conceived people will have donor half-siblings out there somewhere. As the parent of a donor child, this poses a question; what's the most appropriate way to approach the concept of donor half-siblings with your child?

Personal stories

Non-biological mother: “I would love if I could be pregnant”

Dec 19, 20225 min. read

Karin and her wife, Jake, will soon start fertility treatment. Karin suffers from a hereditary blood disorder, so Jake will carry their child. But how do you handle being the future parent of a long-desired child when you have always dreamed of being pregnant yourself?

Personal stories

Lesbian couple Jo and Viv travelled abroad for fertility treatment

Dec 13, 20227 min. read

Married couple Jo (25) and Viv (29) live in Poland, where LGBTQ+ people are not allowed to adopt or have children through assisted reproduction. Therefore, welcoming little Ivy into their family was quite the journey, mentally and geographically.

Life as a parent

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

Oct 07, 20229 min. read

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

Personal stories

Donor child on her search for half-siblings: “I was curious about the people I share DNA with”

Apr 04, 20225 min. read

22-year-old Rikke Jespersen has eight donor half-siblings, all of whom were born with the help of the same sperm donor. Here she talks about her thoughts before and during her search for half-siblings.

Popular posts

Life as a parent

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

Oct 07, 20229 min. read

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

Personal stories

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

Jun 10, 20215 min. read

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.

Customer stories

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

May 26, 20214 min. read

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.

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

Customer stories

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

Oct 14, 20215 min. read

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.

Life as a parent

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

Apr 03, 20209 min. read

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.

Life as a parent

Children’s Books about Donor Conception and Modern Families

Feb 03, 20203 min. read

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.

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