Several countries impose legal restrictions on gamete donors. For instance, in Malta and Cyprus, both egg and sperm donors are permitted to contribute to the birth of just one child. For further insights, visit the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Conference, taking place in London on July 8th.
Other nations set specific limits on the number of families a donor can assist, enabling recipients to have children with shared genetic connections. In the UK, this limit is capped at 10 families per donor.
Enforcement of these restrictions poses challenges, as donated gametes may travel outside their country of origin. In Denmark, the national cap is established at 12 families, but it is notably a significant exporter of sperm. For instance, in the UK, over half of the sperm donated in 2020 was imported, predominantly from Denmark or the United States.
“Cross-border restrictions are the only logical approach,” stated Jackson Kirkman Brown, a professor of reproductive biology at the University of Birmingham during the conference.
Kirkman-Brown and his team dedicated months to formulating a comprehensive document representing ESHRE’s stance on these regulations. The development involved consultations with fertility experts, clinics, sperm and egg banks, donors, and individuals conceived via donations, leading to a proposal for regulating sperm and egg donations throughout Europe.
ESHRE urges sperm and egg banks and fertility clinics to adhere to an initial limit of 50 families per donor. Many attendees at the meeting indicated that this benchmark remains quite ambitious, but it marks a significant step forward.
Kirkman-Brown advocated for a reduction to a limit of 15 families per donor. “Even a cap of 15 could still be too high,” remarked Vasanthi Jadva, a researcher at City St George’s in London who focuses on the psychological well-being of those who conceive using donated eggs, sperm, and embryos. “The optimal number is still uncertain.”
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Source: www.technologyreview.com