Making the case for private sperm, egg and embryo donation.
Private or "directed" sperm, egg, and embryo donation has been around for a long time, and is such an important resource for lesbian couples, single women and families with fertility challenges who want to start a family. Donors want to choose who they donate to and on what terms, whether that means no contact post conception, some involvement, or all the way to co-parenting. Being a donor is a caring and selfless act of generosity that deserves to be treated with deep respect and gratitude. Unfortunately, private donation, especially sperm donation, is often seen as unsafe, ill-advised and unsanitary, and at worst a bunch of men just looking for sex.
Creating a family is a profound and personal experience, not a business.
The fertility and donor conception industry is a largely "for-profit" enterprise, with the donors being the "product," and recipients the "customers." There is a lot of money to be made, and there is almost no discussion or support of private sperm donation by the doctors, clinics, egg donation agencies and cryobanks that dominate the industry.
KDR is making an effort to bring legitimacy to private sperm donation by providing a valuable resource to the community of donors, women and families who seek an alternative to fertility industry sperm donation. By providing a registry and Donor ID system, we can allow donors and recipients to access many of the services previously only open to sperm banks. This includes the ability for donors to provide a thorough and informative profile without compromising their confidentiality. Donor KDR profiles remain online even after the donor is no longer donating, allowing their donor conceived children to access the information many years later.
Do The Research
Using sperm from a sperm bank and conceiving with care of a physician has two primary advantages over private sperm donation: health screening and legal protection. These are not aspects to be taken lightly, and women who are interested in using a private sperm donor need to carefully research the health and legal implications. By not using a sperm bank and a physician, a woman is taking on the duty to carefully screen and verify the donor, as well as protecting her family and her child from future conflict. KDR strongly encourages both Donors and Recipients to consult with a family law attorney in their state before committing to private sperm donation.
- Research the family law in your country and state
- Consult a family law attorney
- Carefully screen donors/recipients prior to committing to donation
