Remove your donor anonymity

Why do some people choose to remove their anonymity?

Some people remove their anonymity because they want to give the people conceived from their donation the chance to understand their origins.

Many donors are also curious themselves to meet the people conceived from their donation – do we share any traits or interests? Do they look like me? It’s natural for both parties to wonder about these kinds of questions.  

What will happen once I’ve removed my anonymity?

If you remove your anonymity, this means you agree to us sharing your name, date and place of birth, and most recent address with any adult conceived from your donation who asks for it.

We can’t contact people conceived from your donation directly. However, if a person has previously applied for this information when you were anonymous, but you later remove your anonymity, we have a web page where they can check this using a reference number known only to them and us.

If we are contacted for your details, we will try to let you know before we release your name and address. This should give you a chance to talk things through with family and/or friends and get support. It’s important that you keep your address and contact details up to date with us as, if we can’t reach you, we are still legally obliged to release your information.

Find out more about preparing for possible contact from someone conceived from your donation.

What if I remove my anonymity but later change my mind?

You need to be aware that, if you re-register as an identifiable donor, your anonymity cannot be re-instated at a later date. This makes it all the more important for you to take your time at this stage to consider all the implications for yourself and any others who may be affected by your decision.

What if I remove my anonymity but I’m not contacted? Can I get in touch with them?

Sadly not. Not everyone knows they have been conceived as the result of a donation, so they may not even know to look for you. This can understandably be upsetting for some people, so you should consider talking through your expectations with family and/or friends.

You can, however, find out the number of children conceived from your donation, their gender and year of birth if you donated after 1 August 1991.

Apply for information

How can I remove my anonymity?

First, if you haven’t already, we strongly recommend you apply to us for the outcome of your donation.

Next, please read our information on preparing to re-register as an identifiable donor and consider talking about the implications of your decision with others who may be affected by it and, if desired, with a professional either at the clinic where you donated.

Finally, please complete the online this application form to remove your donor anonymity. If you need an accessible version of this form, please contact openingtheregister@hfea.gov.uk.

Please note:

• The second email address that you provide on your application form must be different from your main email contact.
• Your proof of address must be dated within the last three months.

You will be sent a validation code to your email address when you access the application form which you will need to complete the form.

Online application form to remove anonymity

Online application form to remove your donor anonymity

Even if you have submitted your documents as part of a request for information in the last 5 years, you still need to submit them again with your application to remove your anonymity.

One form of identification:

• valid passport
• birth certificate (if your name has changed since this was issued, you also need to submit deed poll documentation or a marriage certificate)
• valid full or provisional UK driving licence photo card
• valid old style paper UK driving licence (containing your date of birth)

One proof of address (dated within the last three months):

• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Credit card statement

The identity documents you supply must be clear colour scanned copies or photographs of original documents. They cannot be a scan of a photocopy. If you do not have access to original documents you may submit copies that have been certified by a solicitor (if you’re a solicitor yourself, you may not self-certify your own identity documents).

Where next?

Rules around disclosing donor information

Apply for information

From our partners

Information for donors before August 1991 (Donor Conceived Register)

Find a specialist counsellor (British Infertility Counselling Association)

Information for egg, sperm and embryo donors (The Seed Trust)