BACKGROUND

Most studies on disclosure of mode of conception after fertility treatment have focused on donor insemination. We present a large, longitudinal cohort study of fertility patients who conceived through a variety of fertility treatments, including both non-donor and donor techniques.

METHODS

A cohort of 2812 women and men (n = 1406 couples) received questionnaires when initiating fertility treatment and at 1-year and 5-year follow-ups. At the 5-year follow up, the response rate was 69.4% and 1036 of the responding participants had at least one child born after fertility treatment. Around 66% of the children were conceived with in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination with partners semen, 26% with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, 7% with donor gametes and <1% with other treatments. The parents were asked whether they already had or intended to disclose the conception method to the child and to others. We used logistic regression to identify determinants among women and men for disclosure.

RESULTS

Most of the parents had disclosed or intended to disclose the mode of conception to the child, and almost everyone had disclosed to someone else. Not having used donor gametes was a significant determinant of disclosure both to the child and to other people among women and men. Having disclosed to other people was a significant predictor for having disclosed or intending to disclose to the child. Among women, low social class was a significant determinant of disclosure to the child. Among men, satisfaction with the medical treatment was a significant determinant of disclosure to other people.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a large majority who had or intended to disclose to the child how he/she was conceived. Non-disclosure was significantly related to the use of donor gametes.