Australian man tells how sperm donation helped him cope with childlessness
In Australia, a 49-year-old man from New South Wales who identified himself as Brett spoke about his experience of sperm donation after he and his wife were unable to have a child. According to him, five children have been born through his donations, and helping other people with infertility became a way for him to cope with his own grief.
As ABC News Australia reports, the couple had been trying to conceive for years. After an examination at a reproductive medicine clinic, they were told that it would require many IVF procedures, which still might not produce a result. Later, Brett's wife experienced early menopause, which, he said, made it impossible for them to have a biological child together.
The decision to become a donor
Brett had long considered sperm donation, but did not dare discuss it with his wife because he feared it would upset her. His wife suggested the idea herself after one of their relatives became pregnant with the help of a donor egg.
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Screening and possible contact
The process involved filling out questionnaires, blood tests, genetic screening and a psychological consultation. The donor also provided information about his education, work, hobbies, family, eye colour and cultural background, as well as childhood photographs. His wife spoke separately with a counsellor.
According to Brett, during the consultation they were told that a donor is not the child's father and has no legal obligations toward the child. He said he would be happy if children born through his donations contacted him one day, but understands that this may not happen. Depending on state legislation, people conceived with the help of a donor may obtain the donor's identifying information between the ages of 16 and 18.
Brett said that at first he did not tell a wide circle of people about the donation and told his parents about it only after learning that the first child had been born. Now, he sometimes shares this story with people he knows well.
