The decision between a Non-ID Release and an ID Release Egg Donor

For many people, this is not an easy choice to make. Especially because you cannot know exactly how you or your donor-conceived child will feel and think in the future. In this blog post, we will walk you through some of the things we recommend you to consider when choosing between a Non-ID Release or an ID Release Egg Donor.

What is Non-ID Release Egg Donors?

Choosing a Non-ID Release Donor at Cryos means choosing a donor whose identity will never be disclosed to you or your child. If you consider becoming pregnant with a Non-ID Release egg donor, there are a few important things for you to consider before making your decision.

The first thing is the fact that the egg donor’s identity is completely confidential. This means that you will receive no more information than what is available in the donor’s profile, which applies regardless of whether you choose a Basic or Extended egg donor profile. It also means that your child may never learn more about its origins when he or she grows up.

The donor has made the choice of being a Non-ID Release Donor herself and has agreed that she will never reach out to or be contacted by the child. The choice cannot be changed by the egg donor nor by the customer.

Why choose a Non-ID Release Donor?

There may be various reasons for choosing a Non-ID Release Egg Donor. There could be certain things you never want to know about your donor, or maybe you do not want your child to become attached to the donor? Above all, your decision should be based on what feels right for you.

Most commonly, Non-ID Release Donors are chosen by individuals or couples who have a desire to build their own "family of their dreams" and only need the egg to make it come true. These individuals and couples are usually not interested in getting attached to the donor by knowing her identity, and therefore perceive a Non-ID Release Egg Donor as the best option for them.

It is completely up to you to decide whether you want your child to have the option to seek out their origins, and this is not something that appeals to everyone. If you do not think your child should have the option in the future, we believe you should choose a Non-ID Release Donor. If you do find it important, you should consider choosing an ID Release Donor instead.

However, there may be some regulations in your country that prevent you from choosing yourself. In some countries, you can only have fertility treatment with Non-ID Release Donors, in other countries only ID Release Donors. In some countries the choice between Non-ID Release and ID Release is yours.

In this blog post, you can read about Katie who is egg-donor conceived and how her upbringing shaped her.

What is ID Release Egg Donors?

Choosing an ID Release Egg Donor means choosing a donor whom your child can reach out to when he or she grows up.

If you consider becoming pregnant with an ID Release Egg Donor, you should know when your child turns 18 years old, he or she can contact Cryos and request information about the donor. It is only your child that can reach out to us, not the parents. If your child contacts us, we will provide them with identifying information about the donor which gives the child the opportunity to reach out to the donor and learn more about his/her biological origins. This is an optional choice, and it is entirely up to the donor-conceived whether they wish to contact Cryos or not. Cryos will never reach out to the child if we are not being contacted.

The donor has chosen to be an ID Release Donor herself and has agreed to the possibility that the donor child might contact him in the future. However, we cannot guarantee that the donor wants to be contacted in the future.

Why choose an ID Release Egg Donor?

Your decision to choose an ID Release Egg Donor may be based on various reasons as well, and again you must listen to what your heart desires. If you want inspiration on how to find the right egg donor, then follow the link.

ID Release Donors are popular since it gives the child the opportunity to contact the egg donor when he or she grows up. Since the choice to reach out resides with the child only, many future parents think it is extremely valuable. In this way, it is possible for the donor child to get information beyond what is found in the donor profile and to learn more about where they come from.

Questions you can ask yourself in the process

• How much do you need to know about the donor to be able to choose the right one?
• Are there things that you don't want to know about your egg donor – now or in the future?
• What pros and cons do you personally see in choosing a Non-ID Release and in choosing an ID Release Egg Donor?
• How important is it to you to know your own biological origin?
• If you were donor-conceived yourself how much would you want to know about your donor?
• Do you want your child to have the opportunity of contacting the egg donor when she or he grows up?
• Will you and how will you talk to your child about the donor in the future?

Want to know more? Read the blog post Deciding between Basic or Extended Egg Donor Profile or find your egg donor in Cryos' Egg Donor Search.