A sperm donor carrying a genetic mutation associated with increased cancer risk fathered nearly 200 children worldwide, Denmark’s public broadcaster DR reported on Wednesday.
Between 2006 and 2022, the man’s sperm was distributed to 67 fertility clinics across 14 countries.
In Denmark alone, 99 children were conceived from his donations.
The donor, who went by the alias “Kjeld,” was later discovered to carry a rare TP53 mutation.
The European Sperm Bank (ESB), one of the largest in the world, was first alerted in April 2020 after a child conceived through the donor developed cancer.
Initial testing of the donor’s sperm failed to detect the mutation, and sperm sales resumed.
Three years later, another child was diagnosed, prompting further testing, which confirmed that the donor carried the gene, though he remained healthy.
His sperm was permanently blocked from use in late October 2023.
According to the Danish Patient Safety Authority, of the 99 children born in Denmark, 49 were conceived domestically and 50 abroad.
The ESB stated that not all children conceived from the donor carry the mutation, which appears in only a small portion of his sperm cells and cannot be detected in the rest of his body.
The case has highlighted regulatory gaps, as European countries often limit the number of children per donor, but no international rules exist governing cross-border donations.
The ESB, which has been involved in the conception of over 70,000 children globally, set a new maximum of 75 families per donor at the end of 2022.
