Important Information for Donors

South Australia’s Donor Conception Register (DCR) became operational in February 2025.  The aim of the DCR is to create a comprehensive register, allowing individuals conceived through donations to access information about their genetic origins and facilitating connections between genetic family members. This has been a long time coming – all donors since 2004 were informed that the Register was being planned, and it was included in SA Legislation from 2010 onwards. 

If You Donated Before 2004

Before 2004, most donations were made anonymously. However, laws have since changed to ensure greater transparency. All fertility clinics in South Australia are now required to submit records of past donations to the DCR. This helps create a more complete picture for donor-conceived individuals and makes it easier to share important medical history.

What This Means for You

• Access Information: You can request access to non-identifying information about individuals conceived from your donation.
• Update Contact Preferences: While donor-conceived individuals have the right to seek information about their genetic origins, you can specify your contact preferences. It's important to note that these preferences do not prevent donor-conceived individuals from reaching out, but they do inform how contact is managed.
• Provide Medical Updates: Sharing updated medical history gives donor-conceived individuals and their families potentially lifesaving information about any genetic health issues
• Support: Free support and counselling are available from the DCR support Services to help you through the process.

This may bring up questions and emotions, and you’re not alone. To find out more or to apply for access to the DCR, contact SA Health at health.donorconceptionregister@sa.gov.au. They will guide you through the application process and provide the necessary support.

For additional information and resources, visit the SA Health Donor Conception Register website.