One thing that has gotten me through this journey is that of online support groups. I've seen a few in a forum format, like the Donor Conceived Subreddit, but in my opinion, the most helpful support groups are on Facebook:
Worldwide Donor Conceived People Network
This group includes 224 (as of today) members and has a great bit of discussion about worldwide issues for DCP, but you are also welcome to share your personal issues.
We Are Donor Conceived
This site is an offshoot of the We Are Donor Conceived website and includes 124 (as of today) members from around the world. Like Worldwide Donor Conceived, members are free to discuss personal and international DCP issues.
DNA for the Donor Conceived
This group is an offshoot of the DNA Detectives group, which is dedicated to all kinds of DNA mysteries within families. While DNA Detectives sees a lot of traffic at almost 61,000 members, your post can get easily lost in the shuffle. DNA for the Donor Conceived is a bit more manageable at 745 members.
Donor Conceived Offspring, Donors, Parents
This group is dedicated to all members of the DC process and has over 3,700 members. It's an interesting group to gain perspective of all involved in the DC process, but I have one word of warning: If you are a DCP who is unhappy with the DC process, this is not the group for you. They are a great many parents on the page who celebrate DC and can lead to some tension among members.
If you have any other support groups to share, please do so!
Friday, August 4, 2017
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Pinterest is a great resource for collecting various ideas on numerous topics. With this in mind, I've created a board for DCP. Check it out!
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Genetic Tools to Find Biological Family Members
For those of you who are aware of your status as a DCP, you may be searching for biological family. With this in mind, I'm grateful we live in the age of commercial DNA tests. Much has been printed about the privacy risks associated with these tests, and those factors are worth considering prior to testing. However, if you feel comfortable sending your DNA to a company, this is the best way to find genetic relatives. Below, I'll cover a few of the most popular tests available today.
Ancestry
I've personally tested with Ancestry and was please with the process. I paid $99, was sent a test kit within a few days, sent back a small vial of saliva, and waited for my results about six weeks. Result windows may vary, with the winter holidays taking the longest amount of time. In addition to testing DNA for an ethnicity estimate, Ancestry will also pair you with genetic matches and has a very useful family tree tool.
23andMe
For $199, users are sent a kit that will tell them both ethnicity information and health information. If you are a DCP and do not have a family health history for your biological parent, the health information component could be very useful.
Family Tree DNA
In addition to offering the autosomal test used by Ancestry and 23andMe, FTDNA still offers male-only Y DNA tests as well as mtDNA tests.
National Geographic's The Genographic Project Test
This test is also on the pricey side, and is intended to test deep, hominim ancestry (as in, when the human species left Africa.) I would personally like to take this test one day, but I wouldn't use it to conduct an initial genetic relative investigation.
My Heritage
My Heritage began selling DNA tests in 2016 and is the new kid on the block. As they have had some issues since they started selling DNA tests, I would wait awhile before considering them to find genetic relatives.
Ancestry
I've personally tested with Ancestry and was please with the process. I paid $99, was sent a test kit within a few days, sent back a small vial of saliva, and waited for my results about six weeks. Result windows may vary, with the winter holidays taking the longest amount of time. In addition to testing DNA for an ethnicity estimate, Ancestry will also pair you with genetic matches and has a very useful family tree tool.
23andMe
For $199, users are sent a kit that will tell them both ethnicity information and health information. If you are a DCP and do not have a family health history for your biological parent, the health information component could be very useful.
Family Tree DNA
In addition to offering the autosomal test used by Ancestry and 23andMe, FTDNA still offers male-only Y DNA tests as well as mtDNA tests.
National Geographic's The Genographic Project Test
This test is also on the pricey side, and is intended to test deep, hominim ancestry (as in, when the human species left Africa.) I would personally like to take this test one day, but I wouldn't use it to conduct an initial genetic relative investigation.
My Heritage
My Heritage began selling DNA tests in 2016 and is the new kid on the block. As they have had some issues since they started selling DNA tests, I would wait awhile before considering them to find genetic relatives.
Welcome
Hello and thank you so much for visiting my blog. I am in my mid-thirties and recently learned that I was conceived via sperm donation. In my search for answers about my conception, I found I had to jump from place to place online for resources, and decided it would be helpful to other donor conceived people (DCP) if I could provide these resources in one place. Thanks again for visiting and I wish you the best of luck in your journey!
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