For many donor-conceived individuals and their families, the journey of understanding identity and connection is deeply personal and sometimes complex. A unique project from the Canada Research Chair in Third-Party Reproduction and Family Ties is transforming these experiences into something unexpected—comic strips. By blending research with storytelling, they’re making the emotions and nuances of donor conception more accessible and relatable.

One part of the project, CONTACT, explores the experiences of sperm and egg donors who have been contacted by donor-conceived individuals. Based on interviews with donors from Canada, the U.S., and Australia, the research team created fictionalized stories that capture the emotions and challenges of these encounters. Each comic is accompanied by informative text, giving readers a well-rounded look at the realities of donor connections.

Another project, STORIES, focuses on the voices of donor-conceived teenagers from Ontario and Quebec. Through engaging visuals, these comics explore themes like meeting a donor for the first time, forming relationships with donor siblings, and navigating family identity. They also address how and when donor-conceived individuals learn about their origins, a topic that can be pivotal in shaping their sense of self.

By using comics to share these experiences, the project bridges the gap between research and lived reality. These stories bring warmth, humor, and honesty to a conversation that is often complex, making it easier for donor-conceived individuals, parents, and professionals to reflect on what family and identity really mean.

For more, check out the comics here.

Dr. Diederich and Sweet Springs Consultation and Assessment, can help you navigate through the steps of third-party production, considerations around donating your embryos, egg donor evaluations, sperm donor evaluations, evaluations of gestational carriers, and even questions you may have about how to form a relationship that you want with your donor conceived children. Whether you are in Pennsylvania, New York, Hawaii or in one of the other many PsyPact states that Dr. Diederich can practice in virtually, she can help you along your journey.