In the Netherlands, it has been revealed that at least 85 sperm donors have fathered 25 or more children each.

The national gynecology and obstetrics organization (NVOG) in the Netherlands announced that a new registration system has exposed fertility clinics violating existing rules on sperm donation for decades.

In its statement, the NVOG revealed that some clinics intentionally used sperm batches more than 25 times, conducted sperm exchanges without the necessary documentation or donor information, and allowed the same donors to donate sperm at multiple clinics.

It was reported that at least 85 sperm donors have fathered 25 or more children each.

Gynecologist Marieke Schoonenberg, speaking on the TV program Nieuwsuur, stated, “The number of donors referred to as ‘mass donors’ should be zero. We want to apologize on behalf of the entire profession. We did not do things as they should have been done.”

LAW AGAINST RISK OF INCEST AND CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGE

According to the British newspaper The Guardian, a law aimed at reducing involuntary risks of incest and consanguineous marriage has prohibited donors from fathering more than 25 children in the Netherlands since 1992. However, due to strict privacy laws, enforcement of this law was difficult.

The limit was lowered to 12 in 2018, but the tools to enforce this (a national donor and mother registry with a code system ensuring that sperm from the same donor is not used in more than 12 pregnancies) were only implemented retroactively in April this year.

Schoonenberg mentioned, “As a result, we now know exactly how many children each donor has. Data shows that since the anonymity of donors was removed in 2004, there have been at least 85 ‘mass donors’ (defined as having at least 25 pregnancies) in the Netherlands.”

AT LEAST 3,000 CHILDREN EXIST

Ties van der Meer from the Stichting Donorkind foundation, which helps children track down their donor fathers, said the findings were a “medical disaster.” He noted that the data meant there were at least 3,000 children in the Netherlands who likely had at least 25 half-siblings.

Van der Meer added that the damage to people’s trust in the medical system and governments allowing this to occur was just the beginning. He mentioned that both children and some donors would inevitably experience more stress, and in a small, densely populated country like the Netherlands, these children were likely to encounter more practical issues as they grew up. Van der Meer said, “When they start dating someone, they will have to do DNA tests to make sure they are not dating a close relative.” He emphasized the importance of providing all relevant information to those affected. The NVOG urged mothers, donors, and children to contact fertility clinics. The Dutch Health Ministry stated that it would inform lawmakers about the findings this week.