The terms below are defined as they are used on this website. While some terms may have broader meanings elsewhere, they are defined more narrowly here to support consistent discussion of these topics.
| Term | Definition | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial conception | Under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), this is an umbrella term for medical fertility procedures, including artificial insemination and assisted reproductive treatment. | We have used legal/medical terms when referring to methods of conception. We recognise that this language may feel limiting or exclusionary. |
| Artificial insemination | Colloquially refers to medical procedures such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) in which sperm is placed inside the uterus. Within the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 (Vic), artificial insemination is defined as a procedure of transferring sperm without also transferring an oocyte into the vagina, cervical canal, or uterus of a woman. | We have used legal/medical terms when referring to methods of conception. We recognise that this language may feel limiting or exclusionary. |
| Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) | Medical procedures that attempt to procure pregnancy by means other than sexual intercourse or artificial insemination. ART includes IVF, gamete intrafallopian transfer, and any related treatment or procedure prescribed by the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 (Vic). | |
| De facto relationship | Two people who are not legally married or related to each other and have a relationship as a couple living together on a domestic basis. | |
| Donor agreement | A non-legally binding written contract between the donor and recipient(s) that clarifies their intentions and expectations regarding the conception, care, and upbringing of the donor-conceived child. | |
| Donor-conceived child | A child conceived using donated sperm, typically through assisted reproductive technology, IVF, or self-insemination. | |
| Fertility clinics | Specialised medical clinics that assist individuals or couples who want to become parents and are unable to conceive via sexual intercourse. | |
| Formal donation | The donation of sperm that occurs within the formal fertility clinic setting. The donor may be known or unknown to the recipient. | |
| In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) | A medical procedure where the egg is fertilised by sperm in a laboratory, outside of the body. The embryo is then transferred into the uterus. | |
| Informal donation | The donation of sperm that occurs outside of the formal fertility clinic setting (e.g. at home). The donor is known to the recipient. | |
| Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) | A medical procedure that involves directly inserting sperm into the uterus. | |
| LGBTIQ+ | People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and questioning. It is an inclusive abbreviation that encompasses a range of diverse sexualities, gender identities, and sex characteristics. ** | We acknowledge the limits of this acronym and use it with respect, while recognising the diversity of experiences it seeks to represent. |
| LGBTIQ+ families | Families in which at least one parent identifies as LGBTIQ+ and are sometimes referred to as ‘rainbow families’. | |
| Known donor | A person who donates sperm and who is familiar with or known to the recipients. They may be a friend, family member, acquaintance, or have been privately recruited for the purpose of donating. | We recognise that not all people who provide sperm identify with or are comfortable being described as a ‘donor’. The term is used for clarity and consistency. |
| Parental responsibility | The legal duties, powers, and authority that parents have in relation to children. | |
| Recipient(s) | The person(s) receiving donated sperm for the purpose of conceiving. Recipients include the person intending to become pregnant and the other intended parent regardless of gender or sexuality. | |
| Self-insemination | A form of insemination that is not carried out by a doctor or medical professional. Involves inserting the sperm inside the vagina close to the cervix, using a method other than sexual intercourse. Often occurs at home using an insemination kit. | |
| Single parents by choice | A person who intentionally decides to become a parent without a partner, utilising methods such as sperm donation to conceive and raise a child on their own. | |
| Unknown donor / Identity-release donor | A person who provides sperm to a fertility clinic for use in donor conception, but whose identity is not shared with the recipients at the time of treatment. |
This content was adapted from a discussion paper by Better Pride and the Centre for Better Relationships. To read the paper in full, click here.