The field of infertility medicine deals with helping people trying to become pregnant. For either physical or genetic reasons – these couples simply cannot get pregnant and/or give birth to a healthy child. There has been amazing progress in this field with ever increasing technology and the wider availability of egg and sperm donation. Because of these scientific advances there are now healthy children born today to parents who 30 years ago would never have been able to have a child.
There are some unexpected downstream effects of these developments. Here in the Land of the Free, there are currently no limits to the number of children a sperm donor can contribute to. Lots of other countries including Taiwan, China, and England have limits on the number of children that can come from a single donor. Because of the lax rules in the US, there are half-siblings out there that don’t even know they’re related! (Same sperm donor dad for example, different mothers.)
Using online DNA registries and gene sites like 23andMe a lot of these people have been able to find each other and connect online and there are now extraordinarily large genetic families with up to hundreds of children all linked to one parent!
In one of the creepier stories we’ve heard – one infertility doctor in Indianapolis was recently caught for inseminating dozens of his female patients with his own sperm. Apparently he would tell them he was using sperm from either their husbands or from an anonymous donor that matched their criteria. He recently admitted that he used his own sperm around 50 times during the 1970s and 1980s.
This is scary news and especially with the rise of online dating with apps like Tinder and
Bumble, you may want to be careful before you swipe right on your brother or sister..
Still interested in sperm donation?
If that doesn’t scare you and you’re interested in sperm donation, you should know that different sperm banks have slightly different requirements. One prominent bank here in New York City only chooses sperm from donors that are 18-39 years of age, educated, and healthy. Sperm donors receive STD screening every three months, full physical every 6 months, and a free genetic screening to check their sperm for any possible hereditary defects or problems. You can donate up to three times a week and make up to $1,500 dollars a month. Another prominent sperm bank in California requires donors not only submit proof of education but also be at least 5 foot 8 inches!
https://manhattanspermdonor.com/
www.spermbank.com
*The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of MDLingo.com, its affiliates, or its employees.
