Anonymity loss in sperm donation would reduce the number of donors by 65%

A study by Instituto Bernabeu concludes that the loss of anonymity would deter many men from donating sperm, mainly due to the fear of being contacted by the children born from the donation in the future.

Reme Segura, from the Instituto Bernabeu Biotech Sperm Bank, will present at the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF in Spanish) congress a prospective study carried out between January 2023 and January 2024, which analyses the attitudes of the male population to the possibility of sperm donation ceasing to be anonymous.

The study main objective is to investigate how the cease of anonymity would affect the number of sperm donors in Spain. For this purpose, a male population was surveyed and divided into three groups: potential donor candidates, active donors and a young general population. The results of the study revealed that a legislative change in this regard would lead to a significant decrease in the number of donors of around 65%.

The study’s main findings suggest that the loss of anonymity would deter many men from donating sperm, mainly because of the fear of being contacted by children born from the donation in the future. While some patients seeking fertility treatment might benefit from the possibility of knowing the identity of the donor, the study results suggest that this benefit would be offset by the drastic reduction in the number of donors available.

“The study only offers a perspective on the possible consequences of a legislative change in this area, but the final decision on the de-anonymisation of sperm donation should be taken after a thorough deliberation that considers all the ethical, social and legal aspects involved,” explains Reme Segura.