Subcultureoftwo_small
Reputation: 1892

Any stigma for children of sperm donors?

A friend of mine is about 30 and has never been in a serious relationship, and she really wants to have kids someday. While she would greatly prefer to fall in love, get married, and have kids in that order, she's decided that if she never meets a potential mate, she wants to get artificially inseminated.

I think she'd be a great parent and have no problems being a single mom...she's financially independent, very loving, and has a stable home. However, she's a bit of a worrywart and is really concerned that her potential future kid might have some emotional issues with being the child of a sperm donor.

I didn't really see the problem. Still, are there any resources for this? Has anybody out there had personal experience with this and can vouch for the well-being of the kids?

Asker's Favorite

  • Webpics_001_small
    Reputation: 74

    Here is a link to a description of a 2006 Cambridge University study. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10377921
    Fewer than 100 kids were followed but the overall results suggest kids by donor are little different from ordinary kids, and that parenting still matters.

    Share this answer with a friend:

4 Other Answers

  • Doorbells_002_small
    Reputation: 896

    I don't understand why there might be any...
    After all, we don't brand them with a scarlet "A" for adultry...

    Nor do we know who was adopted (except for Dave Thomas, of course)...

    Nor do we know who is still a virgin (unless they tell us)....

    Why would we know someone was conceived from a sperm donor?

    Share this answer with a friend:
  • N1420951519_6175_small
    Reputation: 35

    There are many kinds of families and the best ones are based on loving relationships. Whether a child may have emotional problems will be more related to the messages or misgivings your friend communicates to her child or how she feels about her decision - than about the decision itself. I don't have resource information to offer - hopefully one of the other respondents will.

    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Pc240061_2_small
    Reputation: 76

    We have had children at preschool who had anonymous sperm donors as fathers. The children were happy and well adjusted. I think that there was some kind of support group for these families.

    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Sacri_ordines_by_charism_small
    Reputation: 3723

    a) why artificially? Nature provides such an easy and often enjoyable delivery method...
    I've known two different lesbian couples that used a friend for the 'donor' and this kept everyone in touch "if need be". So far that need hasn't cropped up, and the oldest was born in 1997.

    b) why (if keeping 'a' firmly in mind) even use the term 'sperm donor'? "Your father left early on, and we agreed it was better for me AND for him" ought to cover it, and not leave any more "issues" than most kids have.

    The truth is, what her child will potentially have issues with is her/his mom having issues with the method of pregnancy. For reals.

    Share this answer with a friend: