A SWOT analysis of unregulated sperm donation

Acceptance and rejection of “morally challenging” behaviour in online sperm donation communities: narrative interviews with recipients and donors

“…These findings lend some support to claims made in previous literature that recipients value the additional choice over conception and contact arrangements that OSD offers ( 6 , 8 ), as well as personal compatibility and the ability to meet donors in person ( 21 , 22 ). However, the narratives of the recipients in this study demonstrate that the issue of donor anonymity was a significant concern for them and that at the forefront of their search for a donor was trying to find someone they could trust.…”

“…Existing research suggests that there are strategies available to recipients to manage risks or respond to difficult donor behaviour. Gilman and Nordqvist ( 5 ), for example, advise that while health risks are higher in OSD, “the use of [STI] testing can arguably reduce them to then a lower level than might be expected in a typical “natural” conception’ ( 8 ). Pennings also suggests that a recipient who finds donor behaviour unacceptable “should cancel the deal”, although he acknowledges that, “In reality, things may not be that simple” ( 8 ).…”

“…Online sperm donation (OSD) offers a broader spectrum of long-term donation arrangements and the opportunity to save money through home insemination rather than undertaking costly fertility procedures ( 5 ). Pennings also suggests that OSD de-medicalizes sperm donation and “increases the reproductive autonomy of women in countries in which access to donor spermatozoa is restricted, where rules are imposed that curtail the freedom to build one's family according to one's own values, or both” ( 8 ). Despite these advantages, some risks have been associated with the use of online sites to source or supply sperm.…”

“…Their research found that personal characteristics matter more for donor success than physical traits ( 22 ) and that recipients tend to prioritise “good character in donor selection” ( 21 ). If personal compatibility is at the heart of selection decisions for recipients, this may explain why increasing numbers of women are turning to OSD settings to find a donor ( 8 ) as clinics do not provide the opportunity for recipients and donors to meet in person. Indeed, a survey undertaken by Jadva, and colleagues found that 58% of OSD recipients felt that there were advantages to obtaining sperm online, of which 24% further specified that being able to meet a donor was a benefit ( 6 ).…”

“…Some of these issues are mentioned briefly by other researchers when discussing OSD [see for example ( 5 , 8 )]. In particular, Jadva and colleagues ( 6 ) found that one third of recipients in their OSD study reported disadvantages to this conception route and, of this number, 40% referred to the existence of “dishonest” donors.…”