"Some men are having vast numbers of children through sperm donation. This week the BBC reported on a man whose sperm contained a genetic mutation that dramatically raises the risk of cancer for some of his offspring. One of the most striking aspects of the investigation was that the man's sperm was sent to 14 countries and produced at least 197 children. The revelation was a rare insight into the scale of the sperm donor industry."
"Sperm donation allows women to become mothers when it might not otherwise be possible - if their partner is infertile, they're in a same-sex relationship, or parenting solo. Filling that need has become big business. It is estimated the market in Europe will be worth more than 2bn by 2033, with Denmark a major exporter of sperm. So why are some sperm donors fathering so many children, what made Danish or so-called "Viking sperm" so popular, and does the industry need to be reined in?"
"First, you have to produce enough sperm in a sample - that's your sperm count - then pass checks on how well they swim - their motility - and on their shape or morphology. Sperm is also checked to ensure it can survive being frozen and stored at a sperm bank. You could be perfectly fertile, have six children, and still not be suitable."
A man's sperm carrying a genetic mutation that increases cancer risk was sent to 14 countries and produced at least 197 children. Sperm donation enables women to become mothers when a partner is infertile, in same-sex relationships, or parenting solo. The European sperm market is expanding and projected to exceed 2bn by 2033, with Denmark a major exporter and so-called "Viking sperm" particularly popular. Donor selection is strict: fewer than five in 100 volunteers qualify. Criteria include sperm count, motility, morphology, freeze-thaw survival, age limits, absence of infections, and screening for genetic carrier status. The UK imports about half its sperm.
Read at www.bbc.com
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