Informal Donor Conception (IDC): What Recent Research Means for Pride Angel Members
Summarised by Erika Tranfield
Recent research from the Digital Donor Conception Study at Manchester Metropolitan University, led by Dr Leah Gilman, provides one of the most detailed looks to date at informal donor conception (IDC) in the UK — also known as home insemination or self-insemination. Much of the research includes people who conceived through community-based routes, including sites like Pride Angel. Below is a member-friendly summary of the findings.
What Is IDC and Who Uses It?
IDC refers to donor conception arranged outside of a fertility clinic.
It has long been part of LGBTQ+ family-building and has grown rapidly due to the rise of online platforms and apps.
Most people using IDC are:
Because IDC is outside the HFEA’s regulatory framework, it also sits outside official donor screening and legal parenthood rules.
Why Do People Choose IDC?
The research shows IDC is often a deliberate, positive choice, not simply a “last resort”.
Common motivations include:
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Cost barriers to NHS-funded or private clinical treatments
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Long waits or lack of diverse donors in clinics
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Negative or non-inclusive clinical experiences, particularly for LGBTQ+ people
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Preference for a known donor, or more connection and transparency than clinic anonymity
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The comfort and privacy of conceiving at home
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A sense of community and shared history within LGBTQ+ spaces
People approach IDC in many different ways — from close, family-style relationships with donors to more anonymous “donation-only” arrangements.
How Do Intended Parents Understand Risk?
Although clinics emphasise risk heavily, this study found that most people using IDC are well-informed and take steps to mitigate the legal and health risks
Intended parents commonly:
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Request regular STI testing for donors
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Create written agreements, although they are aware they are not legally binding
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Put legal protections in place (e.g., if in a couple they got married or civil partnered prior to TTC)
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Screen out for donors asking for natural insemination or showing unsafe behaviours
Participants also recognised that no route — including clinical treatment — is risk-free.
Challenges Highlighted by Parents
While most parents in the study described IDC as positive and fulfilling, some challenges were also clear:
1. Finding a trustworthy donor
Screening donors online can be time-consuming and emotionally draining. It could take a long time and a number of false starts to find a donor they trusted and who definitely wanted to donated.
2. Legal uncertainties
Because UK law recognises some informal donors as legal fathers, many parents experience:
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Stress about parental rights
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Worries about the non-biological parent’s legal position, and the legal status of the donor
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Confusion at registrars or from professionals unfamiliar with IDC
3. Stigma from healthcare professionals
Some parents reported judgement, misinformation, or unnecessary interventions during pregnancy.
4. A small number of serious negative experiences
Although more unusual, some participants described discovering hidden donor information or serious abusive behaviour. These highlight the need for safety, transparency, and better reporting pathways.
Overall Experiences
Despite challenges, the overwhelming majority of parents and donors in the study felt IDC was:
Many expressed pride in building their families “in their own way” and emphasised that with IDC risks can be mitigated so that they were proportionate and reproduction (and life!) is always risky.
What the Research Suggests Should Change
For the NHS
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Make clinical treatment more accessible for LGBTQ+ people
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Remove unfair prerequisites (e.g., proving unsuccessful attempts before eligibility)
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Improve inclusive language, assumptions, and counselling
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Make known-donor conception in clinics easier and less medicalised when preferred.
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Offer support to those choosing IDC: STI testing, donor checks, information, and guidance
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Discuss IDC without judgement to ensure full, accurate care histories
For Government
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Update legal parenthood rules so families formed via IDC are protected
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Consider creating a voluntary IDC register (as in South Australia)
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Strengthen protections against coercive or harmful donor behaviour
What This Means for Pride Angel Members
This research validates what many families already know:
✨ IDC can be a positive, informed, safe and empowering route to parenthood for LGBTQ+ people and solo parents.
✨ Most challenges relate not to IDC itself, but to gaps in law, clinical access and inclusive practice.
It also highlights the importance of:
Pride Angel will continue to support families and donors by promoting safe practice, informed choice, and respectful connection — values strongly echoed in this research.