Creating boundaries in the sperm donation industry: a study of bioethical qualifiers in the donation of human sperm

Abstract

While the donation and transfer of human sperm has become a common and effective practice amongst many who suffer from the inability to conceive naturally, the practice's bioethical implications have yet to be fully considered and may reveal a necessity to place qualifying constrictions on the practice. Some examples of related ethical issues range from psychological impacts upon such offspring as a result of partial genetic dissociation from parents, and discriminatory practices such as "shopping" for traits or narrow descriptions to create the image of optimal sperm donors. Regulations for eligible donors vary in different regions, while keeping some sort of uniformity through criteria groups, including height, weight, education, and healthy lifestyle actions. Recently in China, after the "one-child only" policy was lifted, there is an increasing demand for sperm donors now than ever, but with new policies, it is even more difficult to donate and purchase sperm. The biggest limitation in these policies is a requirement for sperm donors to have an immense amount of patriotism, on top of all the pre-existing limitations. Due to donors not being able to qualify for the "amount of patriotism" needed, there is an increased use of underground operations, such as the black market. These operations are often unsafe and have no regulation, encouraged by donors and middlemen solely seeking monetary value, leading to even more complications in this controversial practice.