ARS TECHNICA – A single sperm donor who carries a rare cancer-causing genetic mutation has fathered at least 197 children across 14 countries in Europe, according to a collaborative investigation by 14 European news groups.
According to their investigative report, some of the children have already died, and many others are expected to develop deadly cancers.
The man—Donor 7069, alias “Kjeld”—carries a rare mutation in the TP53 gene, which codes for a critical tumor suppressor called protein 53 or p53. This protein (which is a transcription factor) keeps cells from dividing uncontrollably, can activate DNA repair processes amid damage, and can trigger cell death when a cell is beyond repair.
Many cancers are linked to mutations in p53.
The estimated frequency of this type of mutation is between 1 in 5,000 and 1 in 20,000 …
Beth Mole Senior Health Reporter – Beth is Ars Technica’s Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes.
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Conceiving with Donor Sperm: What Could Go Wrong?
“There are no guarantees that a private sperm donor will provide accurate personal information about their health and lifestyle or undergo any medical screening … “
Louisa Ghevaert Associates,19 July 2022
Demand for donor sperm has increased in recent years. This has been driven by growing numbers of single women and same-sex couples undergoing assisted conception. Added to this, male sub-fertility and infertility rates now stand at around 10 – 15 percent.
Furthermore, there has been a shortage of sperm donors in the UK for many years. As such, increased demand together with the time, commitment and costs of undergoing licensed fertility treatment with donor sperm is leading to growing numbers of women looking for a sperm donor online.
Private Sperm Donation
Choosing to conceive with a private sperm donor in an unregulated environment outside of a UK fertility clinic creates additional issues and risks which need to be considered carefully from a medical perspective.
Whilst registered sperm donors at UK fertility clinics have undergone rigorous vetting (from a personal and family health history perspective) along with medical checks for a range of genetic conditions and sexually transmitted diseases, private sperm donation does not offer the same level of protection.
Privately donated sperm outside of a licensed clinic setting is not medically screened and quarantined before use. Furthermore, there are no guarantees that a private sperm donor will provide accurate personal information about their health and lifestyle or undergo any medical screening (the risks of this are likely to increase with an unknown private sperm donor sourced from the internet compared with a male friend or known acquaintance).
The motivations of private sperm donors can also create a range of additional issues and risks. Some private sperm donors, known as ‘super donors’, are motivated by a desire to conceive as many genetic children as possible.
This can lead to large numbers of donor conceived genetic half-siblings and increase the risks of consanguinity (incest) later in life …
