The article emphasizes that bonding in family creation through donor conception is not solely based on genetics. While everyone experiences genetic loss when not passing on their genes, this does not automatically equate to grief. Personal experiences with donor conception vary widely, with some individuals embracing their roles as parents and others feeling significant disconnection. Research indicates that same-sex male couples often have a greater desire for genetic ties compared to same-sex female couples, highlighting diverse pathways for emotional connection and differing priorities in parenting models.
I purposely did not title this article "genetic grief" because it is crucial to understand that everyone who builds their family using donor conception... will experience some form of genetic loss. However, this loss does not always translate to grief.
In research I presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, I studied same-sex female couples and their preferences regarding genetic connections in conception. Our research found that some women strongly desired a genetic connection, others prioritized carrying the pregnancy, and some simply looked forward to parenting without a preference for either.
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