European fertility group calls for limits on sperm donations
International standards demanded for offspring numbers per donor.
1Issues with anonymous donors
Despite the 2004 ban on anonymous sperm donation in the Netherlands, destroyed records left many donor-conceived individuals unable to trace biological parents. People like Ties van der Meer discover they may have dozens or even hundreds of half-siblings worldwide.
2Genetic risks and ethical concerns
Hundreds of children from a single donor raise risks of unintentional consanguinity. A Danish donor was found to carry a cancer-prone gene passed to 197 children, highlighting the critical need for stringent health screenings in donation programs.
3Current national regulations
Malta and Cyprus allow only one child per donor, while the UK limits contributions to 10 families. However, cross-border sperm trade complicates enforcement, as seen with Denmark’s 12-family limit despite being a major exporter.
4Proposed pan-European limit
ESHRE suggests an initial cap of 50 families per donor, acknowledged as high but pragmatic. Experts advocate reducing this to 15 families long-term, though the ideal number remains debated given psychological and genetic considerations.
5Regulatory challenges
Global sperm trade undermines local limits—Denmark exports extensively despite its 12-family rule. The lack of a unified system enables donors like Jonathan Meijer to father 600+ children across multiple jurisdictions before legal intervention.
6Path forward
ESHRE’s framework could inspire global standards, but divergent approaches (e.g., the US’s 25-birth suggestion for 800k populations) pose hurdles. Collaboration among clinics, banks, and governments is vital to protect donor-conceived individuals’ rights and health.
Original article: MIT Technology Review — Avrupa'da sperm bağışına sınırlama çağrısı