Embargoed for Release: 
Monday, November 10, 2008 – 9:45 AM Pacific Time

Contact: 
Contact: Sean Tipton, 415-978-3704, stipton@asrm-dc.org or Eleanor Nicoll, 415-978-3705, enicoll@asrm-dc.org. They can be reached at the onsite ASRM Press Office in the afternoon Sunday, November 9 until Wednesday, November 12, 5:30 pm Pacific Time.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 64th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE 

New Research Sheds Light on Issues Around Sperm Donation

San Francisco, California – Research presented this week at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) sheds new light on a number of issues about sperm donation.

Psychologist Joanna Scheib, PhD from University of California, Davis working with colleagues from The Sperm Bank of California (Berkeley, CA), examined data from the sperm bank's open-identity sperm donor program. They sought information on who pursued information about the sperm donor, and what their motivation was for seeking that information. They found only about 30% of eligible offspring chose to get information about the sperm donor. Women were more likely to request information than men. Family structure appeared to have an impact, with 44% of offspring raised by single women requesting information – compared to 34% raised by lesbian couples and only 20% of those raised by heterosexual couples.

A team from Houston recruited adult offspring of sperm donors from an online support group to inquire about their experiences. They reported that most of the offspring participating in the group feel neutral to very good as their means of conception, but thought that identifying information about the donor should be made available to adult offspring of sperm donors. 

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco with support from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, explored the psychological impact of the use of donor sperm or eggs on couples suffering from infertility. Men and women each reported that using donor gametes to replace their own gametes would raise their stress levels, while acknowledging the same would be true for their partners. Both were concerned that the use of donor sperm could lead to a decrease in the strength of the tie between father and offspring, and perhaps lead to marital problems.

The need for sperm donation is often triggered by male infertility. Urologists at the University of Wisconsin examined the information about male factor infertility offered by ART clinics on their web sites and found need for improvement. They reported just fewer than 60% of ART clinic websites mentioned male factor infertility at all, and only 7% listed an urologist as part of the infertility team.

“Clearly, male factor infertility and sperm donation are an important part of the infertility picture. Research into the impact of sperm donation will help us provide treatments that work better for the patient, the donor and the offspring,” said Dale McClure MD president-elect of the ASRM.

• O-22 Scheib et al – Who requests their sperm donor’s identity?

• P-209 Eisenberg et al – The perception of donor gametes from male and female members of infertile couples

• P-210 Mahlstedt et al – The voices of adult offspring of sperm donation

• O-8 Williams et al – The use of biased language and inaccurate information about male factor infertility on fertility clinic websites in the United States 

Note: All information is embargoed until the time of presentation at the meeting, unless otherwise indicated.


The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, founded in 1944, is an organization of more than 8,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology. Affiliated societies include the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and the Society of Reproductive Surgeons.

 Return to Press Releases

By accessing and using the ASRM Web Site, you agree to be bound by 
the ASRM Web Site Terms and Conditions of Use.  

View the ASRM Non Discrimination Policy

Copyright 1996-2009 ASRM, All Rights Reserved
American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Listed on Infertility Resources
Developed and hosted by Internet Health Resources