Donor Conception Network
Welcome to single women, from the Donor Conception Network (DCN)
Single and considering motherhood?
The DCN welcomes you to join the 250 or so single mums and would-be mums, who form a quarter of the membership.
The aim of the DCN is to provide support, information, links and contacts throughout our journeys, so that we and our children can grow up at ease with the consequences of our choices. We include people who have used the full range of treatment options, including known, willing to be known and anonymous donors, embryo and double (egg and sperm) donation and treatment abroad, and recognise that very different issues may arise.
You may be at the early stage of considering a baby on your own; you may be going through treatment; you may have children through birth or adoption; or you may have decided to end treatment without a child. Whatever your sexual orientation or cultural background, we hope you’ll gain from these pages and from membership, and perhaps be able to contribute and help other women as well.
Unlike the heterosexual couples in the DCN, most of us do not have a fertility ‘problem’ apart from the lack of sperm, and the lowered fertility associated with the age at which we’ve come to the decision to go it alone. Many of us have gone through difficult times and found the support and information available through the DCN invaluable. Many of us have stayed involved as our children grow up, to ensure that they are in contact with other children who share their mode of conception, so they know they are not alone or odd, and so we can also share the experiences of bringing our children up with openness and honesty, and all the issues that arise at different stages.
The odds of success with treatment depend on a multitude of factors, and the range of treatment options also varies wildly. These variations are too complex and fluctuating to be addressed here: the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) publish an annual review of all the registered treatment centres in the country, and a guide to all the treatments options.
What the DCN has to offer
The DCN has a fund of experience gathered since it’s foundation in 1991. There are regular opportunities to meet other members to share experiences and thoughts, regular publications and an extensive lending library. There are also regular opportunities to contribute, for instance by writing for the newsletter, taking part in research or speaking to the media.
The DCN Website has many personal accounts of different people’s journey through treatment, details of news in the field as well as forthcoming events. There is a series of Forums which members may join and correspond with others under a variety of different headings. One of these Forums (the busiest) is dedicated to single women.
New members’ first response is from the DCN office: you receive a copy of the latest Newsletter, a list of recommended books, a general Contact List that includes the co-ordinators of the mixed local groups that you are very welcome to join, and information about Telling and Talking materials. If you are on email you will be asked if you wish receive the eBulletin monthly and other communications by email. You will also be asked if you would prefer an email ‘PDF’ copy of future Newsletters. Replies to these questions should go directly back to the main office
As a single woman, your details will then be passed on to Emily (if on email) or Ruth (who uses the post office). You will be sent a personal welcome and a copy of the Single Women’s Contact List, with the details of around 70 women across the country who are happy to be contacted. Also on this list are the details of various support groups for single women, and of those who are interested in starting something up in their area as soon as there are enough others interested. You’ll also get a form you can use at a later stage if you’d like your name added to this list, and a copy of the leaflet “Dear Would-be Single Mum”.
Women with email addresses will be added to the mailing list to which the co-ordinator (Emily) regularly sends out articles and references she comes across that may be of interest.
Olivia (one of the founding members and principal organisers) and Emily (co-ordinator for single women) are both happy to take calls from members and provide whatever support and information they can. Contact details will have been made available to members.
Please be reassured that your details will not be disclosed to anyone unless you have expressly allowed us to do so.
Links, Contacts and References
HFEA: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (020-7291 8200)
‘Single Mothers by choice’ (new edition out 2007) by Jane Mattes, who set up Single Mothers by choice Membership fee allows access to many lively discussion boards, quarterly newsletter and international contact list.
‘Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Woman's Guide’ by Mikki Morrissette: website at and associated newslist / discussion group (free)
Fertility Friends website, an excellent guide to tracking your cycle and wide ranging discussion groups, including a singles’ section.
