Wendy Kramer

Co-Founder and Director, Donor Sibling Registry (DSR)

Wendy is the Co-Founder and Director of the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR). The DSR was founded in 2000 with her donor-conceived son Ryan to assist individuals conceived as a result of sperm, egg, or embryo donation who are seeking to make mutually desired contact with others with whom they share genetic ties. With over 100,000 members in 105 countries, the DSR has helped connect 30,000 of them with their half-siblings and/or biological parents. Wendy has listened to and advised/consulted with thousands of these parents, donors, donor-conceived individuals, and other donor family members for more than two decades.

Wendy has conducted many research studies on all donor family members. She is a co-author of the resulting peer-reviewed papers published in Social Science and Medicine, Human Reproduction, Reproductive BioMedicine & Society, Facts, Views & Vision in OB/GYN, Reproductive BioMedicine Online (RBMOnline), Advances in Reproductive Sciences, Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research, Fertility and Sterility, The Journal of Family Issues, Children and Society, The Journal of Law and the Biosciences, and more. She has contributed chapters to several books on donor conception. She has reviewed abstracts for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. She has served as a peer reviewer for the journals Human Reproduction, RBM Online, Frontiers in Global Women's Health, and many other journals.

Wendy was an Associate Producer for the 2011 Emmy-nominated documentary Sperm Donor and on the 2013 MTV News & Docs, six-part docuseries Generation Cryo. She co-authored Counseling Donor Family Members: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and presents training to psychology and reproductive medicine groups around the world. She co-wrote the book Finding our Families: A First-of-Its-Kind Book for Donor-Conceived People and Their Families, wrote the children’s book Your Family: A Donor Kid’s Story, and authored the book Donor Family Matters: My Story of Raising a Profoundly Gifted Donor-Conceived Child, Redefining Family, and Building the Donor Sibling Registry.

Wendy was married when she gave birth to her son Ryan in 1990, and in 1991 began to raise him as an only parent. Ryan has connected with his biological father (and grandparents) and knows of 30 half-siblings, so far. Wendy holds a B.A. in Communication Arts, has completed many postgraduate courses in counseling and psychology, is Mental Health First Aid certified, and is a Psychology Today monthly contributor with a blog called Donor Family Matters.