Current Practice of Artificial Insemination by Donor in the United States

Abstract

Of 711 physicians likely to perform artificial insemination by donor surveyed to determine their current practices, 471 responded, of whom 379 reported that they performed this procedure. They accounted for approximately 3576 births by this means in 1977. In addition to treating infertility, 26 per cent of these physicians used the procedure to prevent transmission of a genetic disease, and 10 per cent used if for single women. Donors of semen were primarily from universities, were only superficially screened for genetic diseases, and were then matched phenotypically to the recipient's husband. Most recipients were inseminated twice per cycle. Only 17 per cent of physicians used the same donor for a given recipient, and 32 per cent used multiple donors within a single cycle. Only 37 per cent kept records on children, and only 30 per cent on donors. The identity of donors usually was carefully guarded to ensure privacy and to avoid legal complications.

A survey of 1700 women who formed their families using donor spermatozoa

“…Thus, it would appear that relationship status -single or partnered -does not explain the difference in responses. It could be the socio-political norms surrounding the use of donor conception at the time of first conception that are likely to influence the perspectives and opinions of these mothers (Curie-Cohen et al, 1979;Daniels and Golden, 2004;Shapiro et al, 1990). Since respondents in a heterosexual relationship were generally older at the time they responded to the survey it seems reasonable to suggest that they first used donor spermatozoa at a time when donor conception was mainly available to women in a heterosexual relationship, when the use of anonymous donors was usual practice, when secrecy and non-disclosure was encouraged, when all aspects of the process were controlled by medical practitioners and when there was no option to access donor information and/or to be offered a choice of donor (Cahn, 2008;Sylvester and Burt, 2007).…”

A review of mathematical models used to determine sperm donor limits for infertility treatment

“…It also made the assumption that the sperm donor was a physician who had an average number of f ¼ 3.3 natural children (1977 figure) and an average number of n ¼ 3.9 DI children. This figure of 3.9 was as reported by 270 of the 379 physicians performing DI in 1971 (17). These numbers were used to determine m, which is the average number of potential half-sibling matings per donor.…”

Donor Insemination

“…In 1979, University of Wisconsin researchers Curie-Cohen et al published one of the classic articles on donor insemination [ 5 ]. Approximately 400 physicians reported that in addition to treating infertility, 26 % used DI to prevent transmission of a genetic disease and 10 % used DI for single women.…”