Womb Within

Over-zealous sperm donors in Australia

by Marijke on October 9th, 2008

In Australia, their lack of regulation of sperm donation has resulted in instances of a single donor impregnating up to 30 women within one community.

In general, fertility clinics in Australia usually only provide services to "traditional" couples, which often leaves those who are in non-traditional situations to seek alternative methods to obtain sperm for insemination. This allows others to set up a service for those who want it but without regulations, which can result in situations like this.

In one case, 30 lesbians were unknowingly inseminated with the same man’s sperm. While this may not be a big issue if they had been spread about the country, they all live in the same area and socialize, encouraging their children to interact and become friends. The concern is that as the children get older, they may form physical relationships and end up having children with their biological half-siblings.

In another instance, another man’s sperm was used to help produce 29 children in the same city. While there’s no indication that their parents are encouraging relationships, as in the first situation, the chances are that these children may meet as adults and again, unknowingly, have relationships with their half-siblings.

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Tags: pregnancy blog, artificial insemination, sperm donors

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POSTED IN: News reports and studies