Here is a nice Q and A discussing some of the findings of our study of donor conceived individuals in Severance: On the Aftermath of Separation. For a sample, I’ve copied one of the questions below, along with my answer:
Could you summarize the most significant finding of the research?
When individuals discover later in life that they were conceived through donor technologies it can be earth shattering. Many of the folks we surveyed were dismayed and had their sense of self turned on its head. Additionally, many of our respondents thought about the nature of their conception every single day—a finding that is astounding given that most of us never give our conception much thought if any. Many ended up seeking psychological counseling as a result of their altered sense of self. Also, many were troubled to learn that money had been exchanged surrounding their conception.