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What to Call Your Egg Donor: A Guide for Recipient Parents
Parenting

What to Call Your Egg Donor: A Guide for Recipient Parents

by
Dr. Saira Jhutty
January 3, 2025
Last updated:
January 3, 2025
Photo of a bunch of blank "hello my name is" nametags

An egg donor is someone who generously contributes her genetic material to help create a family. While her role is crucial, she may not always have an ongoing relationship with the recipient family. However, the terminology used to refer to her not only reflects feelings about her role in the family-building journey but it can also influence how your child and others perceive this relationship well into the future. 

Choosing the right term to describe your egg donor is a very personal decision with different factors to take into consideration. Factors such as your family’s cultural context, belief systems, who you are sharing this information with, and the degree to which you want to emphasize or de-emphasize the donor’s role in your family narrative all play a role in what you decide to call your egg donor.  

For cultures or personal beliefs that value biological lineage, intended parents might use a term such as "biological/genetic contributor/donor" to acknowledge the egg donor's role but without implying any type of emotional or social connection. Those who believe parenting is defined by nurture rather than nature may use something such as "the person who helped grow our family." If the donor is known, then the person’s name might be used, and she may be described as “our helper.”

When talking to your child, consider using terms that are easy for them to understand and age-appropriate while keeping in mind that honesty and simplicity are key. You want to tailor the language to their age and level of understanding and emphasize the love and intention that brought them into the world. Using respectful and appreciative terms can help your child feel confident and secure in their origins.

Deciding what to call your egg donor is not just about your family’s internal language—it’s also about how you communicate with extended family, friends, and others. Consider your audience. If you are speaking with friends/family who know about your journey and you feel comfortable, you might simply say “our donor” or use her name if she’s known to you. For those less familiar or not as close to you, a simpler term like “a donor” keeps the focus on your family rather than the process. A lot of it also comes down to how much information you’re comfortable sharing. Using a term like “a donor” can keep the focus on your family without inviting further questions unless you want to elaborate. 

Here are some commonly used terms:

  • Egg donor is a straightforward term that is commonly used and accurately describes the donor’s role without implying a deeper emotional connection.
  • Biological/genetic contributor is a more technical term. This term emphasizes the genetic contribution without suggesting any other role. 
  • Special helper is often used with young children to frame the donor’s role in a simple, positive light.
  • The donor’s first name is common for families with a known donor.

The choice of what to call your egg donor is a personal one, shaped by your unique journey and family dynamics. By thoughtfully considering the donor’s role, your child’s needs, and your personal values, you can select terminology that feels authentic and respectful for everyone involved. Ultimately, there is no "right" or "wrong" term to use. Trust your instincts and choose language that aligns with your family’s values and comfort level.

Dr. Saira Jhutty

Dr. Saira Jhutty is a licensed clinical and industrial organizational psychologist in private practice specializing in fertility. She is also a Founding Medical Advisor for Cofertility, and has spent the last 11 years focusing on assisting people build their families using third-party reproduction. Dr. Jhutty’s expertise lies in the evaluation of and consulting with potential surrogates and egg donors, and meeting with intended parents to discuss their decision to use alternative methods to build their family. In the past, Dr. Jhutty worked as Director of Surrogacy and Egg Donation at Conceptual Options, previously leading all gestational carrier and egg donor assessments there. Through her work with Cofertility, Dr. Jhutty provides guidance to ensure Cofertility remains at the forefront of ethical standards, including egg donor screening, intended parent counseling, and support for donor conceived children and families. For all members of Cofertility’s Freeze by Co egg freezing programs, she also makes herself available for office hours, through which members may ask questions directly within our private community.

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relationships
egg donation
egg donors
Donor conceived people
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