Preliminary data on family relations in anonymous oocyte donation families: children's perspectives at age 5 to 7 years

Abstract Study question Do children born in oocyte donation families perceive their relationships with their parents differently than children conceived trough ICSI? Summary answer No significant differences were found in the family relationships between children born in oocyte donation families (OACC) compared with controls (ICSI). What is known already Majority of the previous research concerning relationships in families using oocyte donation focused on the mothers’ perspective. Little is known about how children in these families view their family relationships. Studies investigating young children’s perspectives in donor-families (5-10 years old) indicate good parent-child relationships (Imrie, et al., 2021; Blake, et al., 2013; Casey, et al., 2013). Few of these studies involve young children conceived using anonymous oocyte donation. Study design, size, duration This study included 17 children born through anonymous oocyte donation in heterosexual parents and a comparison group of 13 children conceived ICSI using the heterosexual parents’ own gametes. Data were collected between August 2021 and January 2023. The sample is part of a larger ongoing case-control-study investigating family relationships and the wellbeing of both parents and their children in families created by anonymous oocyte donation. Participants/materials, setting, methods Children were 5 to 7 years old (M = 6.13; SD = 0.5) and had been born after assisted reproduction (ICSI with or without using anonymous oocytes) with their two heterosexual parents. All children were invited to the hospital to undergo biomedical and psychological testing, including the Family Relationship Test (FRT; English version: Bene and Anthony, 1985; Dutch version: Baarda and van Londen, 1985). Multiple blind evaluators were used. Main results and the role of chance No significant differences were found between children born in oocyte donation families (OACC) compared with controls (ICSI). Two-sampled-T-tests show no significant differences for (1) positive feelings (towards and received by children) to their mothers (OACC: M = 6.65, SD = 4; ICSI:M=8.85, SD = 4), fathers (OACC: M = 5.06, SD = 0; ICSI: M = 5.08, SD = 0) or themselves (OACC: M = 0.35, SD = 0.5; ICSI: M = 0.77, SD = 0), (2) negative feelings (towards and received by children) to their mothers (OACC: M = 1.47, SD = 0.5; ICSI: M = 1.92, SD = 4), fathers (OACC: M = 2.06, SD = 0; ICSI: M = 2.31, SD = 0.5) or themselves (OACC: M = 0.76, SD = 0; ICSI: M = 0.38, SD = 0) and (3) dependency to their mothers (OACC: M = 4.29, SD = 3; ICSI: M = 4.54, SD = 0), fathers (OACC: M = 2.82, SD = 1; ICSI: M = 2.69, SD = 2) or themselves (OACC: M = 0.53, SD = 0.5; ICSI: M = 0.85, SD = 0.5). Limitations, reasons for caution This study used multiple evaluators, which may induce a potential evaluators bias. The small sample size limits the validity of our findings to a whole population. As the study is still ongoing, the data to be presented will expand. Wider implications of the findings The findings are relevant to clinics offering anonymous oocyte donation, to (future) parents who used or who considerate using anonymous oocyte donation to create a family. Trial registration number not applicable