Experts warn that this could result in donor-conceived children having dozens of biological half-siblings across Europe and beyond. A legal loophole is allowing sperm donated in the UK to be exported to other countries, potentially leading to the creation of large numbers of donor-conceived children worldwide. This practice violates the UK's strict 10-family limit that applies within its fertility clinics, as there are no restrictions on exporting sperm or eggs abroad.
Experts warn that this could result in donor-conceived children having dozens of biological half-siblings across Europe and beyond. They are urging the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to tighten regulations to prevent this from happening. As per The Guardian, "If you believe that it's necessary to enforce the 10-family limit in the modern world then logically that should apply wherever the sperm are from," said Prof Jackson Kirkman-Brown, chair of the Association for Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS).
"There is data showing that some of the children who find the really big families struggle with that," he added. "Once you've frozen sperm it doesn't get any older," said Mr Kirkman-Brown. This means that a donor sperm could continue to be used for years or decades.
"You can end up with donor siblings older than your parents, which is not somewhere we've been yet," he added. Prof Nicky Hudson, a medical sociologist at De Montford University, said, Donations are "presented to donors as.