The Difference between Anonymous, ID-release, and Known Donors

Donor anonymity is a widely discussed topic in sperm donation, and a clear ethical concern to many. When different donation options are considered, regulators take into account the medical and psychological well-being of the donor, the future parents, and the donor-conceived child.

In many regions, donor anonymity is regulated, yet, looking into global sperm donation regulations, there seems to be no consensus on what is right. While some countries allow only anonymous donations, others have completely forbidden anonymous donations. Family, genetics, and privacy are understood differently across societies. Some countries emphasise individual privacy, while others prioritise children’s rights. Some cultures place greater emphasis on the social parent, while others value genetic ties. One of the biggest questions in building a family with a donor is how open or private a future parent wants the journey to be, and how much control they have over that decision.

Three different donation types can be considered standard practice: Anonymous Donation, ID-release Donation, and Known Donation. If the choice is given in their location, every parent(s)-to-be and donor is faced with a choice on what could be right for them and their situation.

Let’s break it down and see what these different approaches mean for you and your future family.

Anonymous Donation

With a fully anonymous donation, the donor’s identity is permanently hidden from the child, even once they turn 18. Countries like Spain, France, Italy and Bulgaria have historically followed this approach. It is believed that anonymous donations attract more donors who value their privacy and are not comfortable being contacted in the future. It allows clinics to offer a wider pool of donor options and keeps legal and emotional boundaries clearer for donors.

However, the concept of donor anonymity can be considered outdated in a world of DNA testing and digital transparency. DNA testing platforms like MyHeritage and the Donor Sibling Registry have made long-term anonymity in sperm donation virtually impossible. Donor-conceived children frequently discover large networks of half-siblings through DNA-testing services and social media platforms.

ID-release Donation

ID-release donations or non-anonymous donations are standard practice in the UK, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of Australia. Here, it is mandatory that the donor's identity is made available to donor-conceived children when they reach adulthood. Priority is put on the child’s right to know their genetic background, with growing evidence showing that donor-conceived individuals often wish to know their biological origins. It encourages openness and long-term emotional well-being by reducing the risk of donor-conceived children experiencing identity-related challenges, reflecting values around identity and transparency.

Choice-based Donation

In countries like the US and Denmark, donors often get to choose whether they want to remain anonymous or be “ID-released”, and recipients can then choose donors based on their own preferences. This offers flexibility and autonomy to both donors and future parents, which appeals to a broader range of donors and allows families to choose the level of openness that feels right for them. The downsides of the choice-based model are that it can create uneven access to information for donor-conceived individuals, and it leaves the responsibility of telling donor-conceived children about their biological origins to parents.

Known Donation or Private Donation

While much of the regulatory debate has centred around Anonymous vs. ID-release donors, a third option has gained traction. In private donation agreements, the future parent might know the identity of the donor from the outset. These parents can find their own donor through personal networks or on platforms like Y factor. Using a known donor leaves no ambiguity about the donor’s identity or intentions, and the parties can decide together on the level of contact, involvement, and future relationship from co-parenting to no contact.

Known donation allows for better information sharing, and both medical history, lifestyle, and personality are all more accessible and detailed, but also requires a high level of trust between the donor and the future parent(s). Knowing the donor beforehand allows the child to grow up with more context about their origins, and potentially contact the donor before they reach adulthood if agreed.

In Y factor we believe that known donation is a valid ethical choice for both donors and future parents, but this path to parenthood requires all parties to strongly consider the risks: parentage and custody concerns, potential conflicts from expectations and boundaries between donor and parent, and potential strain on friendships if things don’t go as planned. Using a known donor requires a higher degree of agreement and trust on both sides; there needs to be alignment in values and intentions to avoid mismatched expectations.

Why Are There So Many Different Takes on Sperm Donor Anonymity?

There is no perfect system, and each model has its trade-offs. The key ethical challenge is balancing the rights and needs of all parties involved: the donor, the parent(s), and the child. It is clear that countries that regulated early, often locked in anonymity, while others that legislated later were influenced by changing views on identity and openness. With the rise of consumer DNA tests, anonymity is becoming practically impossible, but not all legal systems have caught up.

We argue that an ethical approach to sperm donation has to be based on mutual transparency and aligned expectations for donors and the future parents. That’s why we let users set their own preferences and encourage upfront conversations, because ethical donation starts with mutual understanding.