Now, renowned fertility lawyer, Stephen Page, is calling for action. Just like any other form of semen donation that occurs online, often donors will contact the recipient, and vice versa, without the involvement of a regulated clinic or third party. He presents this debate as one of protecting donor-conceived individuals’ very existence from current unregulated practices that endanger their future. Page is one of the leading proponents for legislation to require donors to confirm their identity. That means showing a driver’s license or passport to the administrators of crowdsourced donation platforms.
Regulation has become necessary following an increase in concern about unregulated online sperm donation. These issues particularly hark back to fears over the creation of mega-donor sibling cliques. These realities can create complicated emotional and social dynamics for people conceived with the aid of a donation. Emily Fae, a donor-conceived person from Perth, is a co-founder of Donor Conceived Australia. In fact, she’s quite passionate about encouraging the federal government to do something about it. She recounts the stories of a few patients. She explains the importance of complete medical histories and access to genetic family members.
Community Responses and Advocacy
Rebecca Kerner, chair of the Australia and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA), has voiced her support for Page’s call to action. She put her worries on the record in writing to Federal Health Minister Mark Butler. She focused on the immediate necessity for safeguarding as it pertains to online semen donation.
As Kerner helpfully explains, “It’s not just about the existence of large donor sibling groups. For many donor-conceived individuals, they can indeed make them feel like they’ve just been cloned. She likens it all to a “wild west,” an ever-changing current landscape. In this context, unregulated donations pose lifetime risks for individuals conceived by these means.
Emily Fae contributes to this discussion by explaining that, “Unregulated donation has lifelong impacts on the donor-conceived individuals it produces. She argues that failure to regulate leaves people unnecessarily vulnerable to harmful side effects and complications. Fae’s advocacy speaks to her dedication to making sure all donor-conceived people are recognized and treated with the respect they deserve.
The Role of Social Media in Sperm Donation
Sperm Donation Australia, a DIY matching site started by Adam Hooper in 2015, has attracted more than 21,000 members. This voluntary social media network provides a marvelous, informal platform for donors and potential recipients to connect, but it lacks formal oversight and regulation. Hooper has warned that regulating these activities would force these interactions below the radar.
Further, he warns, once regulations are put in place it will lead to a dark web situation. If so, children will never be able to find out who their benefactors were. Though afraid, Hooper steels his resolve and defends his conviction. As a father of many, he admonishes, “Sperm Donation Australia provide the best advice and fly the furthest anywhere in the world for a free platform.”
The collective further urges users to explore alternative insemination routes, advocating for safer practices. One of the main themes in Hooper’s book is the role of safety in these interactions. He urges donors to imagine the STD test you’ll receive before every donation transaction.
Government Review and Future Implications
Against the backdrop of these concerns, the Australian government has begun to regulate fertility practices. Under strong leadership from the Victorian government, they have started a quick three-month review of the nation’s fertility sector. Public interest in this review stems from a number of factors, including the gap in regulation of online semen donation. Stakeholders such as Page are optimistic that this new pilot program will finally bring about the change they seek.
Page articulates his vision for reform, stating, “We can’t have children waking up in the morning discovering that they’ve got 57 siblings because there’s been a failure of political will to regulate these apps and websites.” Like him, we’re convinced that urgent action is needed. He implores, “It needs to be done, and it needs to be done now! The children of Australia deserve better.
Debate on this important subject is quickly intensifying. Advocates such as Fae and Kerner are tirelessly working to establish a national register to track these donors and strengthen bans on family reproduction. Like us, they think these measures are pretty important. Their goal is to prevent future generations from the emotional pain that can be associated with unregulated sperm donation.
