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Experts warn that UK sperm donations, which are exported internationally, are bypassing the UK’s strict 10-family limit per donor.
Experts warn that UK sperm donations, which are exported internationally, are bypassing the UK’s strict 10-family limit per donor. The Guardian reports that while UK fertility clinics enforce this limit, there are no restrictions on sending sperm or eggs abroad.
This loophole is leading to an industrial-scale practice, resulting in donor-conceived children potentially having numerous half-siblings across Europe and beyond.
Experts are urging the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to strengthen restrictions on sperm donations. Prof. Jackson Kirkman-Brown, chair of the Association for Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS), stated, “If enforcing the 10-family limit is necessary, it should apply regardless of where the sperm originates.”
He added that data indicates some children from large donor families face challenges. Prof. Lucy Frith from the University of Manchester, who studies donor-conceived experiences, noted that while contact with biological half-siblings is generally seen positively, the growing number of siblings can become overwhelming.
She highlighted that managing relationships with an increasing and uncertain number of people can feel unmanageable. Prof. Lucy Frith noted that there is no specific threshold for when the number of half-siblings becomes “too much,” but generally, more than 10 is considered a large group.
Mr. Kirkman-Brown added that frozen sperm remains viable indefinitely, potentially resulting in donor siblings who are older than the donor’s own children. Prof. Nicky Hudson emphasized that donations should be seen as a way to help create families, not as a means to maximize births and profit.
The 10-family limit for donor sperm is enforced by the HFEA in licensed clinics, based on comfort levels regarding the number of potential donor-conceived children and half-siblings.
However, Rachel Cutting, director of compliance and information at the HFEA, explained that the HFEA does not oversee donations outside licensed clinics and cannot monitor how often a donor is used in such cases.
