An inventory of reasons for sperm donation in formal versus informal settings

Bossema, Ercolie R.; Janssens, Pim M.W.; Treucker, Roswitha G. L.; Landwehr, F. J.; Duinen, Kor Van; Nap, Annemiek W.; Geenen, Rinie

doi:10.3109/14647273.2014.881561

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…'s (2015) study of online sperm donors. This study also confirms that men's specific reasons for registering with websites rather than clinics include the greater potential to engage with recipient families ( Bossema et al, 2014 ; Woesternburg et al, 2015 ). However, the current study goes further in demonstrating the diversity of donors' preferences, giving a broader picture of online sperm donation overall.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Secondary motivations such as the desire to procreate, to check one's fertility and the reciprocity of those undergoing fertility treatment are also sometimes found ( Riggs and Russell, 2011 ; Jadva et al ., 2011 ). Specific reasons for choosing to donate in a non-clinic context have not been examined, with the exception of two small scale Dutch studies ( Bossema et al ., 2014 ; Woesternburg et al ., 2015 ). For example, Bossema et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specific reasons for choosing to donate in a non-clinic context have not been examined, with the exception of two small scale Dutch studies ( Bossema et al ., 2014 ; Woesternburg et al ., 2015 ). For example, Bossema et al . 's (2014) study included five sperm donors who had donated in an ‘informal setting’, finding their reasons for this preference included engagement in the process and the potential to have a bond with the recipient and contact with the child.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Online sperm donation: a survey of the demographic characteristics, motivations, preferences and experiences of sperm donors on a connection website

Freeman

Jadva

Tranfield³

et al. 2016

Hum. Reprod.

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STUDY QUESTIONWhat are the demographic characteristics, motivations, preferences and experiences of heterosexual, gay and bisexual sperm donors on a connection website (i.e. a website that facilitates direct contact between donors and recipients of gametes)?SUMMARY ANSWERThis demographically diverse group of men was donating for altruistic reasons and perceived the website as providing greater choice over donation arrangements: approximately one third favoured anonymous donation, most of whom were heterosexual, whilst gay and bisexual donors were more likely to be in contact with children conceived with their sperm.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYDespite substantially more sperm donors being registered on connection websites than with clinics, there has been very little research on this population. Current understanding of the impact of sexual orientation on donors' attitudes is also limited.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONAn online survey was conducted over 7 weeks with 383 men registered as sperm donors with Pride Angel, a large UK-based connection website for donors and recipients of sperm.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSThe survey obtained data on participants' demographic characteristics and their motivations, preferences and experiences regarding online sperm donation, including attitudes towards contact with offspring. Differences according to participants' sexual orientation were examined.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEMost participants (80.4%, 308) were heterosexual, 10.5% (40) were gay and 9.1% (35) were bisexual; ages ranged from 18 to 69 years (median = 36, mean = 37.3, SD = 9.7). A greater proportion of gay and bisexual men desired open-identity donation (P < 0.005) and contact with offspring (P <0.005) than heterosexual men. Approximately one third (28.7%, 110) had donated sperm; 18.3% (70) had conceived at least one child, of whom a minority (25.7%, 18) were currently in contact with the child, comprising significantly more gay and bisexual than heterosexual men (P = 0.001). Heterosexual men were most likely to state a preference for natural insemination, although the large majority (94.3%, 66) of donors who had conceived children had used artificial insemination.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONFindings may not be representative of all sperm donors using connection websites because members of only one website participated and participants were, by necessity, a self-selected sample.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSThis is the first comprehensive study of donors who connect with recipients via the internet, including a substantial number who have donated and conceived children. The findings indicate that sexual orientation may influence men's donation preferences and raise policy issues concerning donor recruitment and the incorporation of online sperm donation into clinical practice.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)This study was supported by the Wellcome Trust (097857/Z/11/Z). E.T. is the co-founder of Pride Angel; the remaining authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Online sperm donation: a survey of the demographic characteristics, motivations, preferences and experiences of sperm donors on a connection website

Freeman

Jadva

Tranfield³

et al. 2016

Hum. Reprod.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There has been a rise in the number of websites that facilitate contact between recipients of sperm and sperm donors, yet there are no clear estimates of how large the online sperm donation market is in the UK and abroad. This increase may be related to changes in legislation in some countries that replaces donor anonymity with identity release donors (where the donor’s identity can be disclosed to the child in the future, usually at age 18 years) (Bossema et al., 2014 ; Woestenburg, Winter, & Janssens, 2015 ). The popularity of seeking a sperm donor online may result from recipients wanting to know the donor from the outset rather than waiting to discover his identity when their child reaches age 18 years (Freeman, Appleby, & Jadva, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why search for a sperm donor online? The experiences of women searching for and contacting sperm donors on the internet

Jadva

Freeman

Tranfield³

et al. 2017

Human Fertility

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Whilst studies have examined the experiences of women who use clinic donors, to date there has been limited research investigating women’s motivations and experiences of searching for a sperm donor online. A total of 429 women looking for a sperm donor on Pride Angel (a website that facilitates contact between donors and recipients) completed an online survey. Fifty-eight percent (249) saw advantages of obtaining donated sperm online with the most common advantage reported as being able to connect with and meet the donor (n = 50 (24%)). A third (n = 157 (37%)) of the participants gave disadvantages, the most common reported was encountering ‘dishonest donors’ (n = 63 (40%)). Most recipients (n = 181 (61%)) wanted the donor to be ‘just a donor’ (i.e. to provide sperm and have no further contact). Whilst it was important for recipients to know the identity of the donor, some did not see this as important for the child and thus the level of information that parents have about the donor, and that which the child has, can differ. Finding a donor online blurs the distinction between categories of ‘anonymous’, ‘known’ and ‘identity release’ donations. Whilst the survey had a large sample size, the representativeness of the sample is not known.

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“…Prospective parents may choose to bring a known donor to a clinic for this purpose, but most clinics that offer donor insemination use sperm from banks, where the sperm donor is unknown and where his identity is either not disclosed at all (in countries with anonymous donation), or is only disclosed once the child reaches adulthood (in countries where sperm donors are identifiable) ( Bossema et al, 2014 ). Co-parenting is therefore usually not an option for people who seek treatment in a licensed clinic.…”

Section: Elective Co-parentingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using an introduction website to start a family: implications for users and health practitioners

Harper¹,

Jackson²,

Spoelstra-Witjens³

et al. 2017

Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online

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Donor insemination treatment offered in licensed clinics protects the donor, recipient and offspring both medically and legally. The Internet has opened up novel, unregulated ways of donating sperm through ‘introduction websites’ and social media forums. Broadly, three categories of women use introduction websites: those who want to have a child with no further involvement of the donor; those who wish to know the identity of the donor from the start; and those who intend to electively co-parent, that is, to bring up the child together with the donor/father. Donors may choose to donate through introduction websites for altruistic reasons and/or in order to have greater involvement with the child. There are some donors who are motivated by the prospect of a sexual encounter, advertising their preference for ‘natural insemination’ – i.e. via sexual intercourse or partial intercourse. When people make their own arrangements online, they may do so in the absence of clear, accurate information. This article, sets out some of the issues that recipients and donors ought to consider before embarking on unregulated sperm donation.

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An inventory of reasons for sperm donation in formal versus informal settings

Cited by 20 publications

References 25 publications

Online sperm donation: a survey of the demographic characteristics, motivations, preferences and experiences of sperm donors on a connection website

Online sperm donation: a survey of the demographic characteristics, motivations, preferences and experiences of sperm donors on a connection website

Why search for a sperm donor online? The experiences of women searching for and contacting sperm donors on the internet

Using an introduction website to start a family: implications for users and health practitioners

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