The UK's fertility regulator has just issued a warning about online donor services, after a number of media stories about agencies offering to put people in touch with potential donors.
It all sounds quite simple, but in fact there are very real risks to using this kind of service. The agencies often claim to operate in a grey legal area where they only provide an introduction, rather than eggs or sperm. Even so, many online donor services are still working on the wrong side of the law. The reason for our stringent legislation when it comes to sperm and egg donation is to keep people safe. Using an agency, you can't guarantee you get the donor you think you are paying for, you don't know if sperm samples are screened or are safe and none of the safeguards that the law provides will apply.
I think it's particularly frightening that many of these sites offer fresh sperm. In licensed clinics, sperm samples have to be frozen before use to ensure that the donor hasn't contracted any kind of infection, such as HIV, since he was last screened. With an online service providing fresh sperm, it simply isn't possible that a sample can be guaranteed to be safe.
Not only are there safety issues, using an online agency can cause huge issues in the future over legal parenthood. If a man donates through a licensed clinic, he is not the legal father of the child born through the donation. This is not the case with an unlicensed donation where, in fact, the donor would be the legal father and could be legally and financially responsible for any offspring.
It may seem an attractive idea, it may be quick, but it certainly isn't safe or sensible to use an online agency and you could be creating problems for both yourself and your future child.
The HFEA have issued at statement which you can read at www.hfea.gov.uk
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