Recent research and articles show families with sperm donor-conceived children function well compared to other family types. Only one-third disclosed origins to the child. Mother and fathers nurture their donor-conceived children in a similar fashion as other families. Actually, fathers had less conflict with these much-desired children compared to others.

 

"This was a very interesting Australian study. Families, including donor conceived offspring, all seemed quite healthy and well adjusted even if only a minority of families had disclosed the origin of the donor-conceived offspring," stated Dr. Sweet. "This should give everyone confidence whether they chose to disclose or not, that the families do well regardless." 

 

Recently, Alan Zarembo of the  L.A. Times released a story alleging that California Conceptions was combining donated eggs with donated sperm and calling them "donated embryos." If there were leftover cryopreserved embryos, ownership of the embryos apparently went to California Cryobank (CC).

 

"While I feel the caring physicians of California Conceptions didn't want to create a large embryo bank, any embryo bank, regardless of size, is highly undesired and is heading us in the wrong direction. Embryos shouldn't be owned by a physician practice," stated Dr. Sweet. "In addition, combining donor sperm and donor eggs and calling them 'donor embryos' is really not accurate and doesn't honor the amazing decision that embryo donors make each and every day when they donate their embryos to patients in need."

 

"There are some relatively easy fixes that will allow California Conceptions their alternative treatment," explained Dr. Sweet. "First, all remaining cryopreserved embryos should be somehow divided by the original group of embryo recipients. This way, the patients own the embryos and not the practice. Second, all embryo donation facilities should allow donors to pull their embryos back under extreme circumstances up to the point of transfer," Dr. Sweet went on to say. "This way, the embryo donation facility is a conservator of the embryos but never really owns them. This is what we have done for the past eleven years." Finally, Dr. Sweet suggested, "The combination of donor sperm and donor eggs is really 'embryo creation' and not embryo donation and should not be described as donated embryos."

 

In response to the L.A. Times article, Dr. Sweet has published a blog, offering his point of view on what he's dubbed "McEmbryos" and why he feels they are "just plain wrong." In addition, EDI published a position statement. Post your opinion on our blog.