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Scandal in Europe/ Donor of carcinogenic sperm revealed, also used in clinics in Albania

2025-12-10 10:07:00, Aktualitet CNA

Scandal in Europe/ Donor of carcinogenic sperm revealed, also used in clinics in

A major investigation published by the BBC has revealed that a sperm donor, who unknowingly carried a genetic mutation that significantly increases the risk of cancer, fathered at least 197 children across Europe.

Some children have already died and only a minority who inherit the mutation will escape cancer during their lifetime.

The BBC confirmed that a very small number of British families, who have been informed, used donor sperm while undergoing fertility treatment in Denmark.

The European Sperm Bank in Denmark, which sold the sperm, said it offered its deepest condolences to the affected families and acknowledged that the sperm was used to make many babies in several countries.

The investigation was carried out by 14 public broadcasters, including the BBC, as part of the European Broadcasting Union's Investigative Journalism Network.

Scandal in Europe/ Donor of carcinogenic sperm revealed, also used in clinics in
Map of countries where carcinogenic sperm has been used, according to the BBC

The sperm came from an anonymous man who was paid to donate as a student, starting in 2005. His sperm was then used by women for about 17 years. He is healthy and passed donor screening tests. However, the DNA in some of his cells mutated before he was born. It damaged the TP53 gene, which plays a crucial role in preventing the body's cells from turning cancerous.

Most of the donor's body does not contain the dangerous form of TP53, but up to 20% of his sperm does.

However, any child born from affected sperm will have the mutation in every cell of their body.

Donor sperm was used by 67 fertility clinics in 14 countries. The sperm was not sold to UK clinics.

However, as a result of this investigation, authorities in Denmark notified the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) that British women had travelled to the country to receive fertility treatment using donor sperm.





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