Experiences of Donor Conception: Parents, Offspring and Donors through the Years Paperback – March 5, 2009

Donor Conception was presented to my husband and me as a possible answer to our infertility. This book was suggested as a way to do a little more research on the topic.I had no idea that this was such a popular form of infertility treatment. The woman at the bookstore who ordered the book for me- even admitted to me that her daughter was the result of DI. We had a 15 minute conversation and I left the store in shock and surprise.I still don't have an answer, but I don't think there is a book that could pinpoint every concern with assurance for or against this type of treatment. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and finished within a day's time. I most enjoyed that the majority of the focus was on the children themselves. How the children reacted to learning their origins. I think truth is the most important aspect of any relationship- especially parenting. Children grow up to be adults and deserve the dignity and respect of being told about their origins.This book focuses mostly on the need for children to be told at an early age and that they should have access to information pertaining to their "biological" fathers or mothers- in case they're interested in establishing a relationship with them as adults. As for me, I'm still on the fence about whether or not this is the path for us.

This book may causes a lot of confusion and encourages over dramatization. I agree to the amazon reader who made a review to say that this book does not distinguish between a parent and a donor. The most important aspect of our existence should be LOVE, and the parents must provide that love to their children, regardless if they are their genetic progenitors or if they are adopting parents, or any other kind of parents. Family is formed with day to day care and love, and donors do not provide that. Even some parents, genetically linked to their children sometimes unfortunately do not provide that love, so what a donor offspring should be grateful and admiring and respecting to is to their day to day parents, and not to any 1 day donor help. Every human being is unique, there are never 2 identical. We are what we are as a combination of the environment where we grow, as well as others like genetic inheritance, so genes by themselves are just a portion of what we are but not all at all. We all have forebears, ancestors that we wished we never heared of, but that a forebear was a murderer, suicidal, a succesful business man or woman, a talented musician, a frustated person, a depresssed one, or any others, for good or for bad, that is never a 'fatality'or 'successful redisposition' to form our own present personality, we are what we are with our own efforts and education, understanding, and ever changing enviroment in our life. Psycholgists should rather help all human beings to undestand that, rather than encouraging more confusion, drama and suffering among people, or are they just creating more 'future patients' for their own unhealthy money need sake? . You can do better than this, look inside of yourself, grow, see love within yourself and others, specially within your family and with your loves ones, enlight, do not suffer, be happy!.

When suffering infertility, you can feel like the loneliest person in the world. I thought of it more as being 'extinct' rather than just infertile. This book gives honest stories about all different circumstances surrounding infertility. It helped me realize that I was not alone and that mourning for the genetic loss of not passing on your genes is different from the loss of having a family. Really helpful in choosing the path ahead when facing these issues. It is helpful for couples, singles, gay or straight folk.

I was very disappointed with this book. The author fails to understand the distinction between donors and parents and frequently refers to the donors as parents. This is not only confusing but misrepresentative. While donors play a very important and special role, their ultimate goal is to help other people parent a child that the couple or individual is desiring and preparing for. It is a very special gift, but should not be confused with parenting. Using this language is confusing for donors, parents and children.

Anyone who is interested in reading this book is likely faced with some pretty tough decisions. I would not suggest buying this book. It is written with a very one-sided point of view. The author includes only "proof" that supports her opinions.

Well written with a narrative that's driven by personal stories. The author definitely is pushing the open donor agenda and would be nice to see more reference to scientific work showing that's the best option, but the stories do support that. Definitely helped me to get my head around the concept and think about if this is the right thing for us or not