What Intended Parents Should Know About Open ID Egg Donation

In the dynamic landscape of third-party reproduction, the advent of Open ID egg donation marks a significant shift in egg donation. It's a model that places a strong emphasis on honesty, transparency, and the best interests of all parties involved: the donors, the intended parents, and most importantly, the donor-conceived children. At Coertility, we advocate for Open ID agreements when direct disclosure is not possible, shifting the traditional paradigm to honor the needs and rights of every individual involved in the process.

What is Open ID egg donation?

Open ID, sometimes referred to as Identity Release, egg donation refers to a practice wherein the egg donor agrees to have her identity disclosed to the child born from her donation once the child reaches a certain age, typically at 18 years. Unlike traditional anonymous egg donations, Open ID egg donation recognizes the potential need for children to access vital information about their genetic heritage, medical history, and potentially, their donor's identity.

In some countries, like the UK, open ID is the law. Since 2005, every child born via donor gametes in the UK has the right to personal non-identifying information about the donor (such as a physical description, year of birth, and medical history) at age 16. Upon turning 18, they are entitled to identifying information including the donor’s name and last known address. 

Disclosed vs undisclosed vs open ID egg donation

Navigating the world of egg donation involves understanding various terminologies and models of donation. At Cofertility, we have two main types of egg donations - disclosed and undisclosed, each of which can provide a different level of contact and communication between the intended parents and the donor. For families and donors that chose undisclosed donation, open ID is an alternative. 

Disclosed Donation

A disclosed donation is when the donor and the intended parents mutually agree to exchange contact information and communicate directly with each other. This model facilitates open communication and interaction, fostering a deeper understanding and connection between the parties. Disclosed donations often provide an opportunity for both the donor and the intended parents to establish rapport and ease any potential anxieties associated with the process.

This doesn’t mean that the donor is in the family’s life. The disclosure status is separate from any potential relationship that you have with the donor. For example, you may have a disclosed donation, in which you share contact information but decide not to maintain any regular communication. 

Undisclosed Donation

In contrast to the disclosed model, an undisclosed donation at Cofertility means that the intended parents and the donor do not exchange contact information and communicate solely through our team. We act as an intermediary, relaying information and facilitating discussions between both parties. This model provides a layer of privacy while still enabling crucial information exchange.

Open ID egg donation

For those who choose an undisclosed donation, open ID is an alternative. This model allows for the donor's identity to be disclosed to the child resulting from the donation once the child reaches a certain age, typically 18 years.

This arrangement respects the potential desire of the donor conceived child to know more about their genetic background and potentially connect with the donor. The open ID agreement is often structured based on the comfort and consent of all parties involved and takes into consideration the best interest of the donor conceived person.

At Cofertility, we encourage both disclosed and open ID agreements, as we believe in the importance of honoring the rights and curiosity of donor-conceived people. This approach demonstrates our commitment to transparency, honesty, and respect for all parties involved in the deeply personal process of egg donation.  At baseline, studies show the benefits of being honest with your child about his or her donor conceived origins

Why Cofertility supports open ID egg donation

At Cofertility, we firmly believe that anonymous egg donation belongs to the past. With the advancements in genetic testing and the increasingly interconnected world we live in, the promises of anonymity given by many egg donation agencies are simply wrong. In a world where genetic testing is widely accessible, there are no guarantees of a completely anonymous gamete donation.

But that doesn’t mean that a disclosed donation is right for every family. And we think it’s important to us to be mindful of unique circumstances and inclusive of cultures that still prefer undisclosed donations. We hold space for those intended parents and strive to help them reach an arrangement with their donor that honors their cultural needs alongside the donor conceived person’s lived experience. In these cases, open ID is an option that gives the parents privacy they desire, while giving the donor conceived child a chance to know who the donor is if they choose to as an adult.

Prioritizing the child's best interest

We are very explicit with the families we work with about the research indicating the benefits of being open with children about their donor-conceived roots. We encourage disclosed donations and are eager to connect intended parents with evidence-based research and experts who can discuss the topic further. We encourage both egg donors and intended parents to consider the best interests of the potential donor-conceived child in this process. For many donor-conceived individuals, knowing their genetic background is an essential part of their identity.

Open ID egg donation allows these donor-conceived individuals to access this vital information, enhancing their understanding of their own identity. It also provides them with the option to connect with their donor, should they wish to do so, once they reach adulthood.

This model not only respects the curiosity and rights of the donor-conceived child but also acknowledges the donor's role in the conception process. It also allows intended parents to answer any questions their child might have about their genetic background honestly and openly.

Building relationships: a customized approach

At Cofertility, we believe in the power of relationships. We work closely with all parties involved in the egg donation process to build a relationship that feels right for them.

We guide donors and intended parents through the complexities of agreements (including open ID agreements), ensuring that they understand the potential future implications and are comfortable with the level of contact agreed upon. Each egg donation agreement is customized based on the comfort level and wishes of all parties, ensuring a mutual understanding and respect for everyone's preferences.

Summing it up

Open ID egg donation is a progressive approach that honors the needs, rights, and best interests of donors, families, and donor conceived offspring. At Cofertility, we're committed to transparency, honesty, and respect for all parties involved in this deeply personal process.

In a world of ever-evolving third party reproduction, we are dedicated to moving with the times, staying up to date with the latest research, and promoting practices that reflect the reality of today's world. Our focus remains on building strong relationships, facilitating open communication, and ultimately, serving the best interests of donor-conceived children. 

As we help build families, we invite you to join us in embracing this approach, paving the way for a more transparent, respectful, and child-centered egg donation process.

Find an amazing egg donor at Cofertility

At Cofertility, our program is unique. After meeting with hundreds of intended parents, egg donors, and donor-conceived people, we decided on an egg donation model that we think best serves everyone involved: egg sharing.

Here’s how it works: our unique model empowers women to take control of their own reproductive health while giving you the gift of a lifetime. Our donors aren’t doing it for cash – they keep half the eggs retrieved for their own future use, and donate half to your family.

We aim to be the best egg sharing program, providing an experience that honors, respects, and uplifts everyone involved. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Baby guarantee. We truly want to help you bring your baby home, and we will re-match you for free until that happens.
• Donor empowerment. Our model empowers donors to preserve their own fertility, while lifting you up on your own journey. It’s a win-win.
• Diversity: We’re proud about the fact that the donors on our platform are as diverse as the intended parents seeking to match with them. We work with intended parents to understand their own cultural values — including regional nuances — in hopes of finding them the perfect match.
• Human-centered. We didn’t like the status quo in egg donation. So we’re doing things differently, starting with our human-centered matching platform.
• Lifetime support: Historically, other egg donation options have treated egg donor matching as a one-and-done experience. Beyond matching, beyond a pregnancy, beyond a birth…we believe in supporting the donor-conceived family for life. Our resources and education provide intended parents with the guidance they need to raise happy, healthy kids and celebrate their origin stories.

We are obsessed with improving the family-building journey — today or in the future — and are in an endless pursuit to make these experiences more positive. Create a free account to get started today!