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Donor Conception Network

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Donor Conception Network

We offer information, support & community to donor conception families. Join us! We also greatly appreciate any donations.

💙Join Us 💙

We offer information, support & community to anyone considering or already using an egg, sperm or embryo donor to create or expand their family. Join us 😊 https://www.dcnetwork.org

💙 Make a Donation 💙

We rely heavily on the generosity of our members and supporters to fund the vital work we do. If you're able to donate, you can do so here:
https://www.dcnetwork.org/donate

Thank you!

12/08/2026

Donor conception has a history of secrecy. So what happens when the story a family believed turns out not to be true?

In this piece, DCN Director Nina Barnsley looks at donor deception: from historical cases of clinics using the wrong donor, or their own s***m, without parents' knowledge, to prolific private donors who misrepresent themselves and their history.

With DNA testing making these secrets harder to keep hidden, it's parents and donor conceived people who are left to make sense of what happened, reframing their family story and rebuilding trust, sometimes decades later.

It's a difficult but important read for anyone working in this field, and a reminder of why transparency in fertility treatment matters.

Read it here: https://dcnetwork.org/truth-lies-and-donor-deception/

11/08/2026

Deciding whether to use donor conception to build your family can feel overwhelming. There are so many questions and it’s hard to know where to go for impartial, credible information. That’s why we’ve set up an event specially for those right at the beginning of their journey to parenthood. Called ‘Getting Started,’ this one-day event is a friendly and affordable way to start getting answers, and we’ll have a medical expert and parents through donor conception on hand to share information and experiences and to answer questions.

Here's what you need to know:
📅 21 Nov, 11am-5pm
📍 London Waterloo
🎟️ £80 per person/£140 per couple early bird before 22 Oct (£95/£170 thereafter)
💙 Friendly and inclusive, suitable for all family situations
🔗 Find out more and book https://bookwhen.com/dcn-events/e/ev-sa984-20261121110000

Feeling unsure? We know this is an emotional topic. We’re really looking forward to seeing you and the event promises to be a warm and friendly space that is suitable for all family types and personal situations. If you’d like to have a chat before booking, please feel free to give us a call on 020 7282 2608 or email [email protected] as we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.

***mdonation

DCN is a UK registered charity (no. 1041297).

10/08/2026

While we at DCN encourage parents to start telling their children about their donor conception story from an early age, we know that's not everyone's situation. When these conversations don’t happen until later, parents often benefit from specialist support and guidance in how to start and what to say and over time DCN has developed a bespoke service for these parents.

We have now captured what we’ve learned from nearly twenty years’ experience in a new booklet called Later Telling . It describes the service and explains some of the common fears parents have and how we help them prepare, reflecting on the questions, concerns and experiences we've seen time and again.

'Later Telling' is ideal for counsellors, psychologists, fertility professionals and anyone working with donor conception families. And for parents considering telling their adult children, it's a helpful companion to our Telling and Talking 17+ booklet.

It's never too late to 'tell' or to seek support, and we hope this resource gives professionals and parents greater confidence in approaching these conversations.

View and buy in the DCN bookshop:
* Print edition https://dcnetwork.org/product/later-telling/ (£12.50)
* PDF download version https://dcnetwork.org/product/later-telling-pdf-version/ (£8)

02/08/2026

Check out all the great things going on at DCN this month for donor conception families.

Most of our online chats and meet-ups are a benefit of DCN membership, so you won't be able to book onto them if you're not yet a member. The good news is that we offer a monthly membership subscription for just £8 per month (£6 for those on lower incomes) so you don't need to pay for the full year up front. Membership has loads of benefits - as well as the online chats, you have access to 90+ WhatsApp groups, to conferences, weekly e-newsletters, a printed magazine and much more.

Find out how we can support your family https://dcnetwork.org/membership/why-join

01/08/2026

How, where and when do we navigate conversations about donor conception? Join our online conference in October as we explore Telling and Talking, not just with children but with the wider community. As part of that, we'll be hearing from three parents about how they navigate those conversations, where it was relevant and where it wasn't. We'll explore at what point parents feel like it's important to get the child's involvement in the conversation about who knows what and we'll explore the differences for different family situations.

We’re looking forward to an informative day of expert talks, personal stories and practical guidance. As well as our parent panels, we've some great speakers:
✅ Producer, author and donor conceived person Rebecca Coxon
✅ Elaborative Reminiscing - Professor of the (Universidad Alberto Hurtado)
✅ Challenges and Nuance - with clinical psychologist Astrid Indekeu and Jane Ellis
✅ Meet and connect space (optional)

As an online event, it's easier than ever to fit the conference around your schedule. Tickets start from just £35 and, if you can't attend live, you'll receive a watch-again link so you can catch up in your own time.

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:
“A fabulous day; inspiring 'real' speakers who were courageous in sharing their stories openly and with humour…Highly recommended.”

“A thoughtfully put together, informative day for parents and intended parents alike. Recommended!”

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱?
✅Parents of donor conceived children
✅Prospective parents considering donor conception
✅Professionals in the field

𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼:
📅 17 Oct, 2-5.30pm
📍 Online
🎟️ £35/£75 for members/non-members before 17 Sep
💙 Two-week watch again link provided
🔗 Find out more and book https://bookwhen.com/dcn-national-conferences/e/ev-sjpp5-20261017140000

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁?
You may also wish to consider our "Getting Started" in-person event on 21 November in London for an experience designed specifically for those considering donor conception as a route to parenthood.

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝘁?
We’re offering a membership and ticket package so you can join us - book your non-member ticket before 17 Sep 2026 and you’ll get six months’ DCN membership included for just £75.

Book your ticket at https://bookwhen.com/dcn-national-conferences/e/ev-sjpp5-20261017140000

*DCN is a UK registered charity, no. 1041297*

31/07/2026

⭐ 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵⭐

𝗘𝗹𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 - 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸
- (Eli Ramos on substack)

Non-genetic parent Eli Ramos reflects on the fears many donor conception parents experience: Will I matter as much without a genetic connection? Rather than dismissing these worries, Ramos argues they deserve honest exploration. Drawing on life with Eli's three-year-old son and insights from donor conceived adults, Ramos describes how confidence in their parenting has grown alongside acceptance that a child’s curiosity about their donor need not threaten family bonds.

🔗 https://eliramos11.substack.com/p/non-genetic-parenthood

⭐ This was taken from a previous Friday Bulletin. The Bulletin is a round-up of all the stories that matter about donor conception, and is one of many benefits of DCN membership.

30/07/2026

There's something pretty special about chatting with people on the other side of the world who care about the same thing you do. 💚

This week's virtual coffee was with Kate from the in the UK... while Meike sat here rugged up in winter, trying not to be too jealous of Kate's summer wardrobe! ☀️😄

One of the things we value most at DCP Hub is building relationships with others who are working to improve the lives of donor conceived people. Sharing ideas, learning from each other, and understanding what's happening around the world helps us do a better job for the DCPs, families and professionals we support.

The Donor Conception Network has spent decades supporting parents of donor conceived children as they navigate the lifelong journey of donor conception. Their work has helped countless families have open, age-appropriate conversations from the very beginning.

We're also big fans of their beautiful books (many of which you'll find in the DCP Hub bookshop).

Thanks, Kate, for another inspiring conversation. We might have to start saving our 💰so we can attend your 2027 Spring conference in London!

16/07/2026

*𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀*

Not sure how to talk to your child about donor conception? Maybe you're unsure when to begin the conversation or perhaps you’re concerned about who to tell and not tell in your life? Our Telling & Talking workshop is designed specifically with your needs and questions in mind. It provides a safe and confidential space for you to explore the benefits of telling and how to get started.

Run by facilitators who are also parents of donor conceived children, this workshop offers a unique perspective. You'll learn how children understand what they’re told and roleplay some scenarios. Plus, you'll get to connect with others in small and large groups throughout the day, building a support network. You'll also gain access to an ongoing peer support group and receive comprehensive handouts about all aspects of donor conception.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain clarity and find the reassurances you've been seeking.

We have three sessions running this autumn:
📆 26 Sep - for mum-and-dad families (online)
📆 17 Oct - for solo and two-mum families (online)
📆 14 Nov - for mum-and-dad families (in-person, London)
⏰ 9.30am-5pm
🎟️ From £129 for early bird tickets
💙 Open to both DCN members and non-members

We’ve been running this workshop for over 15 years and our charity has been helping families like yours for over 30 years, so you can feel assured that you’ll come out at the end with the tools you need to confidently tell your family story.

🔗 Find out more and book https://bookwhen.com/dcn-workshops-t-t20

14/07/2026

🌱 "Seed" or "s***m"? When it comes to talking to young children about donor conception, choosing the right words can feel like a balancing act between biological accuracy and parent confidence.

In case you missed it, we're resharing this insightful piece in which DCN Director Nina takes us behind the scenes of writing and translating the Our Story children's books. She shares why they ultimately chose the softer, child-friendly word "seed" to empower anxious parents while still keeping the books completely customisable for families who prefer exact medical terms.

At the end of the day, these books are tools, not rigid rules! Read the full reflection on building confidence through language here: 👇
https://dcnetwork.org/seed-or-s***m-building-confidence-through-language/

13/07/2026

Deciding whether to use donor conception to build your family can feel overwhelming. There are so many questions and it’s hard to know where to go for impartial, credible information. That’s why we’ve set up an event specially for those right at the beginning of their journey to parenthood. Called ‘Getting Started,’ this one-day event is a friendly and affordable way to start getting answers, and we’ll have a medical expert and parents through donor conception on hand to share information and experiences and to answer questions.

Here's what you need to know:
📅 21 Nov, 11am-5pm
📍 London Waterloo
🎟️ £80 per person/£140 per couple early bird before 22 Oct (£95/£170 thereafter)
💙 Friendly and inclusive, suitable for all family situations
🔗 Find out more and book via the link in our bio

Feeling unsure? We know this is an emotional topic. We’re really looking forward to seeing you and the event promises to be a warm and friendly space that is suitable for all family types and personal situations. If you’d like to have a chat before booking, please feel free to give us a call on 020 7282 2608 or email [email protected] as we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.

***mdonation

DCN is a UK registered charity (no. 1041297).

Address

London

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 4pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 4pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4pm
Friday	9:30am - 4pm

Website

https://www.dcnetwork.org/, https://i.mtr.bio/donor-conception-network

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