A significant case has emerged involving a man whose sperm, despite carrying a rare genetic mutation linked to cancer, was used to conceive at least 67 children across Europe. This revelation has sparked calls for stricter regulations on sperm donation.
According to Edwige Kasper, a biologist from Rouen University Hospital in France, these children were born between 2008 and 2015 from 46 families in countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Alarmingly, ten of the children have been diagnosed with various types of cancer, including brain tumours and Hodgkin lymphoma.
The donor possesses a mutation in the TP53 gene, which is associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome—a condition that increases cancer risk. Although the mutation was unknown at the time of donation, its implications are now significant, as children carrying the gene face ongoing medical monitoring and have a heightened risk of passing the mutation to their own offspring.
Kasper highlighted that the current follow-up for these gene carriers involves comprehensive medical examinations, including MRI scans and clinical assessments. While this protocol is intensive and burdensome, it has proven effective in identifying tumours early, improving survival rates for those affected.
This case has raised concerns about the regulation of sperm donation, particularly regarding the number of children fathered by a single donor. Unlike other notorious cases of high-profile donors, this individual contributed solely to the European Sperm Bank in Denmark. Julie Paulli Budtz, a representative from the bank, acknowledged the organisation’s distress over the situation, explaining that thorough testing protocols had been followed, but preventative genetic screening has limitations.
Currently, there is no universal limit on how many children can be conceived from a single sperm donor across Europe, although some countries impose their own restrictions. For instance, France allows ten births per donor, while Denmark and Germany permit twelve and fifteen, respectively. Budtz noted that the European Sperm Bank advocates for a self-imposed limit of 75 families per donor to address these concerns.
Kasper insists that effective harmonisation of donor regulations across Europe is essential to prevent similar situations in the future. She called for European-level regulations to ensure that comprehensive safeguards are established, thereby capping the number of offspring conceived from one donor globally.
In summary, this case highlights the urgent need for regulatory reform in sperm donation practices to protect families and potential offspring from unknown genetic risks.