Comments on: Sperm are Cute and Other Things I Learned at the ASRM Conference

By: TTC #2

TTC #2 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:46:07 +0000

You crack me up! LOL. And for the record a registry of donor created kids is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard.

By: erin

erin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:35:36 +0000

ROFLMAO-You crack me up. Thanks for my daily laugh and also for sneaking in some education. You’re good at that. I now have a lot to think about that I’ve never even heard of before.

By: Mark Lyndon

Mark Lyndon — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:36:51 +0000

The HFEA figures for egg donors are at the link. They’re broken down into altruistic and “egg-share” donors, but these are the raw figures:

Year All egg donors
2000 1219
2001 1281
2002 1146
2003 1029
2004 1029
2005 923 (donor anonymity ended April 2005)
2006 783
2007 956
2008 1084

Basically, the numbers dropped (though they were already dropping), but are now higher than before the rule changes. Interestingly, a much higher proportion are altruistic donors; there are now more altruistic egg donors than since 2001.

By: Essie's mommy

Essie's mommy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:52:38 +0000

I started reading because of the title and first paragraph. Very very funny. I love the interaction you share with your kids. But once I started, I kept reading and was so glad that I did. I had no idea that people were passing laws that would affect whether my daughter could have been born or whether my future children to be could be born. We have 5 frozen possibilities and the thought that somewhere some fool could go off half cocked and make it illegal to transfer them and allow them life is scary. How did I not know this. I don’t know Renee and Lee, but I am so thankful for them and what they are doing. I will go to the Take action page and take action.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:28:55 +0000

Thanks for the info Mark. What has happened with egg donation in the UK since anonymity has been abolished?

By: Mark Lyndon

Mark Lyndon — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:20:57 +0000

Let’s not forget that the primary stakeholders in donor conception are not the donors, or the parents, or the clinics, but the donor-conceived. They are overwhelmingly against secrecy and donor anonymity.

The UK has had a national registry of donors and donor-conceived people since 1991, and has also considered noting the fact that an egg or sperm donor was used on birth certificates to prevent parents from hiding that from their children. In one state in Australia, donor-conceived people are contacted at the age of 18 to inform them of their genetic origins.

Gamete donors in the UK can also no longer be anonymous, partly as a result of a case brought by two donor-conceived people to the European Court of Human Rights. Other countries that have ended donor anonymity include the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Switzerland, Austria and New Zealand. The numbers of UK sperm donors have gone up three years in a row since the ending of anonymity btw.

By: Terri Lawrence

Terri Lawrence — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:12:00 +0000

Thanks for sharing "What I Learned at the Conference”, Dawn. I really enjoyed reading it and learning about what is happening today in the field of reproductive medicine.

By: Evelina W. Sterling

Evelina W. Sterling — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:51:54 +0000

Thanks so much for the update Dawn! You are so right…it was very exciting. Lots of fabulous people doing fabulous things. And thanks for highlighting Renee and Lee. They are simply awesome, and all that they do is greatly appreciated by everyone working in the fertility field. It was indeed a great meeting. Sorry I missed seeing you. Hopefully we can connect next year in Denver if not before.

Evelina W. Sterling, PhD, MPH, CHES
President
Rachel’s Well
http://www.rachelswell.org

By: Natalie

Natalie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:15:42 +0000

Dawn,

You make me crack up with your writing! I am done building my family, but having suffered infertility and adoption – I still find your stuff riveting and full of humor and it always gives me great ammunition, ideas and information to pass on to fellow friends and associates. Hats off to you! (No pun intended! LOL)

By: Leah

Leah — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:01:15 +0000

If Maury won’t have a “baby daddy” show on donor sperm/embryos, then I don’t think a national registry should happen either. Dr. Adamson made an excellent point. How many states still require a blood test before marriage? That might be a way of seeing if you’re related before you tie the knot.

Sounds like a great conference. Thanks for sharing.

I want a sperm lapel pin!!!