Frost smoke rises from the icy nitrogen tank at the Livio clinic in Oslo. A highly sought-after product, deep-frozen donor sperm, is stored here. The thin containers, or “straws”, are marked with “Alan” and “Ragnar”, which are nicknames the clinic has given two potential sperm donors. These straws with donor sperm are in quarantine. Only one in ten donors is approved for use. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news According to the regulations, sperm from one donor can only be used in six Norwegian families. Then it stops. Nan Birgitte Oldereid says they are completely dependent on importing donor sperm to meet the demand in Norway. Now she also wants to export Norwegian semen to Iceland and Sweden. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / Truls Alnes Antonsen – We freeze more than we need to use. It varies how many “portions” each woman needs to get pregnant, and some want to save sperm for their siblings, says clinic manager Nan Birgitte Oldereid. There is often some sperm left after the quota of six families in Norway has been used up. Livio therefore wants to export sperm to its sister clinics in Sweden and Iceland. – We lack donors in Norway, but there is also a lack of donors in Sweden and Iceland. The extra straws we have can be used by our clinics there. The health authorities are now considering whether the fertility industry should be allowed to export Norwegian sperm out of the country. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news Thus, more childless single women, heterosexual and lesbian couples can get help to become parents. Close to 20 half-siblings Letting sperm fly across the border also means that the groups of half-siblings can become larger. Many donor-conceived adults are critical of this. “Julie” from Molde is 36 years old and was born with the help of donor sperm. She has found close to 20 genetic half-siblings through online DNA matches. She has no idea how many more are out there. “Julie” from Molde was created with the help of donor sperm. Photo: Roar Strøm / news – I feel mass-produced when I have so many half-siblings. It feels like being a bit half human. She is anonymous because she fears negative feedback, but would like to say why she thinks the limit of six families should be absolute. “Julie” has several apps for genealogy. After submitting her DNA herself, she has found almost 20 half-siblings. Photo: Roar strøm / news – It is already a strain to be donor-conceived with many half-siblings in different families, with different family dynamics, then you also have to deal with half-siblings abroad, she says. – This sends a signal that the children are just a product and do not have the same rights as other children, she says. She experiences it as an “emotional roller coaster” to constantly get to know new siblings. – There are many disappointments and a great strain, but it is also an enrichment to know them. The idea that there are several genetic half-siblings is always with her. – It is absurd to go to the shop and meet people who look like myself, and who could be half-siblings. There is no acceptable way to ask about it. The 36-year-old from Molde believes that Norway should be a pioneering country when it comes to safeguarding the rights of donor children. Photo: Roar / Strøm – Today, private fertility clinics are dependent on importing sperm. Will it make such a big difference if this goes both ways? – I think Norway can be a pioneering country. Instead of following others, we should take a step back and see how this affects the children. – It is important to inform the parents Senior adviser in the Directorate of Health, Anne Forus, says they have assessed the regulations and the country that the maximum limit of six families only applies in Norway. Before they can give the final go-ahead for export, they must process the application from Livio. Anne Forus, senior adviser in the Directorate of Health. Photo: Lisbeth Skei / news – Among other things, we have to consider what kind of conditions we should set, any limits on use. It is also important that the couples or women who are to receive sperm receive information that it can be used by several families abroad. Fears commercialization The association for donor conceptions (DUIN) is concerned about the consequences of opening up for export. – Norwegian donors can become so-called “super donors”, which is worrying in terms of psychosocial unrest for donor-conceived people, says deputy head of DUIN, Øystein Tandberg. Øystein Tandberg says the issue of exports was never discussed when the limit on the number of families was set. Photo: Ingvild Edvardsen / news He also fears that the opportunity to donate several times could lead to the commercialization of sperm donation. – It is obvious that the payment itself will be a motivation to donate. Today, sperm donors are compensated with 0.7 percent of 1 G per donation. It corresponds to approx. NOK 800 Forus in the Directorate of Health says it is difficult to answer whether the money will be a draw. – It is not allowed to pay directly for donations, but it is allowed to give compensation. We have calculated the compensation based on how many donations there may be. – Would you consider this before you give the thumbs up for export? – It is probably something we should look into more closely. Hydrogen container with sperm from sperm donors. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news – Easier to find the right donor Nan Birgitte Oldereid in Livio says that exchanging donor sperm makes it easier to find a donor with the right ethnic background. – If a couple from a particular region of the world comes to our clinic in Falun in Sweden, we may have exactly the donor they need with us. – What do you say to the criticism from DUIN that several biological half-siblings are a problem in themselves? – I understand donor-conceived people who want to have as few children as possible per donor, but now there is a shortage of donors, and then we have to help each other. She emphasizes that there are clear limitations on the number of children per donor both in Iceland and in Sweden. – No human right to have children The rules for sperm donation have been tightened since “Julie” was conceived. Today, donor-conceived people have, among other things, the right to be given the donor’s identity when they turn 15. Nevertheless, “Julie” believes that donor children are not looked after well enough with the current rules. – Shouldn’t consideration for the childless also weigh heavily? – I believe that the health services for the childless should be strengthened so that they get more help to cope with the grief of struggling with infertility. It is not a human right to have children, but it is a human right to know one’s biological origin. Sperm and egg donation Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news In Norway, couples who are married or cohabiting can be offered assisted fertilization with donor sperm or donor eggs if given conditions are met. Single women can receive treatment with donor sperm. In Norway, both imported sperm and egg cells are used, as well as gametes donated by Norwegian donors. Those applying for assisted fertilization with donor sperm or donor eggs must present a childcare certificate from the police. Since 2005, anonymous donors have been prohibited. The children have the right to know who the donor is when they turn 15. In the early days, the rule was that the children had to turn 18 before they could find out who the genetic father is. The parents are obliged to tell the children that they have been conceived with the help of donor sperm or donor eggs.
ttn-69
– I feel mass-produced – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
