Key facts
- Audrey and Arthur Kermalvezen, both conceived via sperm donation, fell in love and discovered they were half-siblings.
- France's strict laws, in place since 1994, criminalize the use of home DNA testing kits and limit access to donor information.
- The couple faced significant legal and practical hurdles in attempting to determine their biological relationship.
- A home DNA test eventually revealed they were not related, but further testing later confirmed Audrey had a biological sister.
- Audrey's donor, Philippe, had died, but his family provided her with information and connection.
- French law is set to change, allowing individuals conceived after April 2025 to access identifying donor information.
Audrey and Arthur Kermalvezen, both conceived via sperm donation, fell in love and later discovered they were half-siblings. Their journey highlights the challenges of genetic testing and donor anonymity laws in France. The couple met in 2010 at a gathering for donor-conceived activists, experiencing immediate chemistry but also concern about potential genetic relation, as multiple donations from the same man were possible. French law, established in 1994, prohibits home DNA testing and restricts access to donor information, with penalties for possessing testing kits. Audrey, a lawyer specializing in bioethics, pursued legal challenges to access information about her donor, but her appeals were rejected. An initial, illicit genetic test suggested they were not related, but their unease persisted. A doctor later provided information indicating their donors were born in different years, but this information was obtained by the doctor breaking the rules. The couple eventually took a home DNA test, which indicated they were not related. However, further DNA results revealed Audrey had a biological sister, Sophie, whom she had previously represented in court. The test also showed that Audrey, her brother Peter, Sophie, and Sophie's brother David shared the same donor. Audrey later learned her donor, Philippe, had died, but his family welcomed her and shared details about him. Audrey's legal campaign and Arthur's book have contributed to changes in French law, allowing access to identifying donor information for those conceived after April 2025. Despite these changes, home DNA testing remains prohibited in France.