Donor children could contact biological parents before 18 under new proposals

Each year about 60,000 patients use fertility services in the UK. Photograph: Andriy Bezuglov/Alamy

Children born via sperm or egg donation would not need to wait until adulthood to find out more about their biological parents, under proposed changes to the law in the UK.

At present, donor-conceived children cannot obtain information about their biological parents until they are 18. But the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said the law should be updated so this information can be made available after the birth of a child, should the donor choose.