Choices

This is a lot to think about.

I've joined the DSR (Donor Sibling Registry) . www.donorsiblingregistry.com I had never thought of half-sibs before. It's weired and scary. Could our child have 45 siblings? It seems that with the American banks that's possible.

Before reading the DSR message boards my opinion of our options was based on the services provided by the different Canadian Providers.

Can-Am Cryo has a lot of free info (including voice clips) which makes me feel more attached to their donors.

Xytex has a sample profile up that shows child and adult photos of the donor.

Both use American Sperm. Both have excellent profiles, pictures and the option for identity release (at the age of 18).

Repromed Ltd. the only Canadian Sperm bank does not offer Pictures of the donor (you get a collage with pieces of the face) and identity release is not an option in Canada.

Which would you choose?

But then... After reading the DSR I've seen and read things that makes me very uncomfortable with the US banks.

First, the number of possible siblings. How regulated is the use of Donor sperm? If only 30% of pregnancies are reported, and there are already 45 half-sibs on the registry, how many babies are there out there?

Articles about Genetic disorders being known (Fairfax) and donors not being pulled is terrifying. Can-Am Cryo uses sperm from this bank.

The idea of Sperm banks paying college students $75 a sample and college students using this as an income. Are they telling the truth on their profiles? Do they understand the implication of mass procreation with Donor Identity Release? Do I want my child to know that their Donor sperm came from a college kid who did it only for the money?

But then again, why would anyone do it? Except for the Money? In Canada the donors do not get paid. Ugh.

So after all of this research, Repromed Ltd in Toronto has come out on top. No, I will not have a picture to show my child and I will not hear a voice recording..... it's not a closed deal. I'm still considering Xytex but Fairfax is OUT. I will not use their services.