French donor-conceived couple battles law to prove they aren't siblings

Arthur Kermalvezen, raised as a sperm-donor child, and Audrey, a lawyer specializing in bioethics, fell in love after meeting at a 2010 activist event in Paris, but feared they might be half-siblings due to limited donor pools. French law, in place since 1994, restricts genetic testing to medical professionals and imposes fines exceeding €3,500 for private kits, effectively barring services like 23andMe. After months of searching, they paid €900 to a doctor who illegally disclosed a test showing no relation, prompting further legal battles that ultimately failed.

A subsequent medical review confirmed their donors were born in different years, and a later home DNA test—sourced via friends abroad—reinforced the finding. Their experience, including unexpected matches with other donor-conceived activists, spurred reforms allowing those conceived after April 2025 to access donor identities, though France still bans at-home testing.