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We are the Donor Conception Network

Parent-led and child-focused, we have been supporting donor conception families for over 30 years.

Weโ€™re a supportive charity network providing information, support and community for those building, or thinking about building, their family through donor conception.

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Thinking about donor conception to create or expand your family?ย 

You’ve come to the right place. We have a whole host of resources to provide the support and information you need to navigate your journey.

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Telling and talking ย with your child?

Parents through donor conception can sometimes feel daunted at the prospect of explaining to their child how they were conceived. We know it isn’t always easy and that’s where we can help.

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Membership only ยฃ7 per month –ย join us!ย 

We have a huge range of resources and services that we provide through a membership subscription.

We keep our fees low to ensure we’re accessible to all donor conception families and whatever your circumstances we look forward to welcoming you into our community!

Find out about membership

Bookshop

Our specialist bookshop contains a whole range of titles for children and adults. Plus our best-selling ‘Our Story’ book comes in 42 versions to help you tell your family story with confidence.

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‘Getting Started’ – thinking about using a donor?

Getting Started is a brand new event for 2024 for anyone thinking about using a donor to build their family. Weโ€™ll have a medical expert, a donor conceived person and THREE parents via donor conception giving all the info you need to help you make your decision.

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Considering egg, sperm, double or embryo donation?

Looking for information or support? Feeling alone?

If youโ€™re thinking about using donor conception or are already having treatment, whether in the UK or abroad, weโ€™re here to offer support, information and a community of families in a similar situation. We can help you think through your questions and concerns; just click on the section below that fits your family type to get details aimed more specifically at you and your family.

Already a parent?

Looking for help with telling your child about their conception?

We know it can be daunting to tell your child that they are donor conceived. We believe that openness is best for the child and for the whole family and have 30 years’ experience helping families to think through how and when to share their family’s story. We have books, workshops and online chats to help you navigate these conversations. We also have specific guidance for people with older children who haven’t been told yet, as well as opportunities for children to meet others made ‘just like them’.

Featured events

Featured

Our Story

One of our bestsellers, ‘Our Story’ is a range of books aimed at young children aged 3-6.ย  They provide a simple introduction to donor conception in age-appropriate language. We have nearly 40 different versions covering a wide range of families. We even have books for donors to help them explain to their own children.

View all books

Upcoming events

Mar

28

Heterosexual couples – Egg donation – Thinker / tryer

A space for members considering egg donation, to come together to talk about shared issues. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Alex.

All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event.

Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further support, please dont hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org

Apr

2

Heterosexual couples – Sperm donation – prospective and new parents

Come and join us for a private space to discuss sperm donation in heterosexual couples with others going down a similar path.

DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Danny, dad to two children, concieved through sperm donation. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, volunteers, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event.

Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further support, please dont hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org

Apr

8

Single women – Sperm or double donation – Thinker / tryer

This is a DCN chat for single women considering or in treatment to become solo mums. This chat is open for those using sperm or double donation and offers a space for discussion and peer support.

This chat will be facilitated by Anna and Kirstie who alternately run the sessions in
All are solo mums in the Network kindly volunteering as facilitators. This is not a professionally led or educational event with set objectives, rather this is a space for sharing and meeting others at the same or a similar stage of the journey.

Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further more professional support, please don’t hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org

Apr

10

Mixed families

You are invited to join us for a conversation for members who are either intending or have ‘mixed’ families – our term for those with a naturally conceived child (or adopted) and a donor conceived child, to talk about shared issues.

DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Laura, mum to two – the oldest naturally conceived and the youngest conceive through egg donation.

All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, volunteers, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event.

Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further support, please don’t hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org

Apr

13

Getting Started

Event for prospective parents thinking about using a donor.

If youโ€™re thinking about using donor conception, we know youโ€™ll have lots of questions. This event is the perfect place to start getting answers. Join us and hear from:

* An embryologist from a UK clinic giving essential medical info
* A donor conceived adult talking about their experiences of growing up DC
* Parents by donor conception talking through their decision-making and life as a parent

๐—ช๐—ต๐—ผ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ? This event is suitable for everyone at the start of their donor conception journey, for same-sex and heterosexual couples and for those planning to become single parents. It’s a friendly, inclusive chance to meet others at a similar stage in a relaxed environment at this in-person event.

๐—”๐—ณ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—น: The full day costs just ยฃ75 per person or ยฃ130 per couple when booked before 6 Mar (ยฃ90 and ยฃ160 after that date) and the 11am start time makes it easy to get to Waterloo and home in a day. This event is a Donor Conception Network event so you can rest assured that all information will be impartial and based on our experience of working with donor conception families for the past 30 years.

๐—™๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ฑ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฑ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ธ
The ticket price includes tea, coffee and cake but not lunch; this helps us keep costs down and means you can choose and order whatever you’d like separately. You can find the pub’s menu here: https://www.thehercules.co.uk/food/menus. You are also free to take lunch outside of course but we hope you’ll stay with us during the break as it will be a great opportunity to chat with other attendees and our DCN team.

About the Donor Conception Network

They say it takes a village to raise children. Well, sometimes it takes a village to help you even contemplate that journey.

We’re a supportive charity network of over 2,200, mainly UK-based, families with children conceived with donated sperm, eggs or embryos, those thinking about or undergoing donor conception procedures and donor conceived people. We provide support, information and a community of families in a similar situation.

Find out more

โ™ก Donate today

We are a small charity and are funded by membership fees and by donations. If you would like to support us, your donation would be greatly appreciated and will help us support the next generation of donor conception families.

Donate now

Sign up to our mailing list

If you’re interested in donor conception issues, whether personally or professionally, do sign up to our mailing list.

If you are a donor conceived adult this is also the way to connect with us and access the support we offer you.

Sign up now