donorconceived

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In this week’s episode, we are joined by journalist and podcast host, Louise McLoughlin.. Louise tells us the story of finding out she was donor-conceived, how she found her biological father and sister, and the feelings she experienced throughout the process. We also talk about what it was like for her family to accept that she wanted to search for her biological father. Louise discusses her work on her podcast, You Look Like Me, where she interviews  donor-conceived people and has become a leader giving voice to the donor-conceived community. We explore the trends and themes of donor conception, including the potential to have a large number of biological siblings, discovering your bio family, medical risks to having limited access to your medical history, and other experiences in the donor conceived community.  Louise advocates for listening to the donor-conceived people’s stories,  being honest with donor-conceived children and helping walk them through uncovering the qualities that came from their bio-parent. Tune in today to hear the impacts and story of a donor-conceived person. 

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• [3:00] Louise introduces herself and tells her story. 
• [5:41] Louise shares with us the moment she learned she was donor conceived. 
• [12:10] What was it like for Louise to find out her father wasn’t her biological father? 
• [15:53] If Louise could write the laws, what would she want to put into place?
• [19:25] What is the story about Louise finding a sister and her biological father? 
• [29:45] How has the relationship changed with Louise’s dad since finding her bio-dad?
• [36:20] What does “enough” mean to Louise regarding finding her bio-sister? 
• [37:06] What themes does Louise hear through her work? 
• [39:20] How does it feel to be going on the journey of uncovering who you are as a donor-conceived child? 
• [43:50] Relationships & Honesty are two things Louise is an advocate for. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• Knowing the information about genetic medical issues is so important that people can be aware of any genetic illnesses early—knowledge of power from so many perspectives. 
• Wanting to know where these things come from - a sense of humor, nose, personality traits, etc. It doesn’t have to be wanting to replace a non-bio parent, but it can just be wanting to learn more about who you are. 
• Donor conceived children and the story are really just a part of what a modern family looks like now. There shouldn’t be shame carried with going on this journey of donor conceived children.  

RESOURCE LINKS

You Look Like Me Instagram

You Look Like Me Podcast

Stork'd Facebook Page

Stork'd on Instagram

Stork'd YouTube Channel

About Louise McLoughlin:

Louise McLoughlin is host of ‘You Look Like Me’, a podcast which explores the secrets and discoveries of donor conceived people, to explore issues around identity, honesty, and why knowing the truth about yourself matters. The podcast reached number 1 in the Irish documentary charts, 10 in the UK, and 69 in the U.S, and was a Guardian podcast of the week in 2021

In this week’s episode, we are joined by Lauren Isley, a genetic counselor at California Cryobank. Have you ever wondered how a sperm bank selects and evaluates its donors? Lauren walks us through what genetics counseling is and how it supports clients in their fertility needs. She shares with us the process of selecting sperm donors, supporting clients in selecting the right donor or in making major decisions based on genetics.She lifts the veil of what goes on behind the scenes and helps reveal the mystery that goes on to create a successful program. Lauren also gives excellent advice for those getting started choosing a donor. Tune in today to get a great understanding of how cryobanks work!

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• [3:35] Welcome, Lauren Isley! Learning about Lauren’s work. 
• [7:39] Under what circumstances might someone need genetic counseling?
• [10:15] What occurs behind the scenes to ensure sperm meets guidelines?
• [13:50] What conditions make someone eligible to be an egg or sperm donor? 
• [16:14] How does California Cryobank look at the risk a potential donor might have vs. the number of donors needed?
• [22:55] What percentage of egg or sperm donors are eligible, and what might make donors unqualified? 
• [25:38] How does California Cryobank keep up with new genetic information? If there is a new genetic mutation, do they go back and remove those donors?
• [28:28] What happens when new medical information is received after a child is born or the donor uncovers information?
• [36:37] How has technology like 23&Me shifted the number of donors? 
• [43:48] What filters and mechanisms does California Cryobank use regarding the number of families who can use a particular donor?

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• When starting your search, start with 2 or 3 items that are your primary criteria. Do you want ethnicity? Height, Education? Whatever it is, start small and narrow down. 
• The cryobank goes through a lot behind the scenes to screen donors. They have a lot of guidelines for donors, including genetics. Some genetic testing will be discussed to see if a recipient will want to move forward with the donor, while others will need testing from the recipient to see if they also care about the genetic mutation. 
• Donors are providing people with the gift of life! The process is long for them, so they deserve much love and appreciation for making the gift a reality. 

RESOURCE LINKS

California Cryobank

California Cryobank Instagram

Stork'd Facebook Page

Stork'd on Instagram

Stork'd YouTube Channel

About Lauren:

Lauren is a genetic counselor by training and after graduating with a Master’s of Science in Genetic Counseling degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, she began her career in the field of assisted reproductive technology, where she has practiced for the past decade. Her various roles include preimplantation genetic testing, gamete donor screening, and reproductive genetic testing. Across these multiple roles, Lauren has focused on educating both patients and healthcare providers about reproductive genetics. Lauren has published several papers and abstracts related to genetic testing and gamete donors and spoken at multiple national conferences on these topics. Lauren previously served as Chair for the Genetic Counseling Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Co-Chair of the Assisted Reproductive Technology and Infertility Special Interest Group of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. She is currently a Medical Science Liaison at Generate Life Sciences, the parent company for California Cryobank, Donor Egg Bank USA, and Cord Blood Registry

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