Entirely Foreseen Consequences

There is a shortage of sperm donors apparently. About ten years ago, donors’ right to anonymity was removed. The connection between the two was obvious at the time.

But some experts are concerned that the removal of anonymity will deter donors from coming forward in the future.

A decade on and “some experts” along with the rest of us who can apply the most basic of critical thinking have proved to be correct.

The UK is facing a major sperm shortage that may be tempting fertility clinics to accept poorer quality sperm, the British Fertility Society (BFS) warns.

And if this wasn’t enough to put off potential donors, the USA is going one step further in putting them off.

As more women become pregnant using sperm donated by men they know, the law must establish what role, if any, these men should play in their biological children’s lives.

When William Marotta answered a Craigslist ad seeking a sperm donor, he was just trying to help two women start a family.

Over a few days in 2009, he gave the couple several donations in plastic cups and signed an agreement giving up all his parental rights. He thought he would never see them again.

But in October he got an alarming letter: though the women did not want him to be part of the child’s life, the state of Kansas was suing him for child support.

It would be nice to say that I am surprised by this development, but I am not. Not remotely, for this is the way things have been developing over the past few decades. Sperm donation is a gift – the clue is in the word “donate” – it is not a gift that keeps on giving for the next twenty years; or at least, it shouldn’t be. Although, in this case the donor was foolish enough to make a private arrangement. Despite a written contract giving up all parental rights, unfortunately, the state decreed that this does not mean giving up financial responsibility. Well, it would, wouldn’t it?

The best way forward is simply not to donate sperm. It would appear that I am not alone in coming to this conclusion. Tough on infertile couples, but, frankly, that’s too bad. The risks are just not worth it.