Sperm Donor Cancer Risk Scandal

Nearly 200 children worldwide were conceived using sperm from an anonymous Danish donor, alias Kjeld, who carried a rare TP53 genetic mutation increasing cancer risk. European Sperm Bank, one of the largest in the world, was alerted in April 2020 after a donor-conceived child was diagnosed with cancer. Initial screening by European Sperm Bank failed to detect the mutation, and sales of the sperm resumed. Three years later, after another child developed cancer, further testing confirmed the donor carried the gene, leading European Sperm Bank to block its use in October 2023. Between 2006 and 2022, the sperm was sold to 67 clinics in 14 countries, with 99 children fathered in Denmark alone. The Denmark — Danish Patient Safety Authority provided details on the affected children. This event highlights the lack of international regulations on donor limits and genetic screening in the fertility industry.