The construction of the "good sperm donor": selection, choice, anonymity and traceability

2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the birth of Louise Brown, the first human conceived and born as a result of in vitro fertilization. What started as a solution for fertility problems experienced by heterosexual couples has spread among different users, creating opportunities for alternative family models (single parents by choice or lesbian and gay parents, among others). Third-party involvement is necessary in most cases of assisted reproductive techniques, whether through the donation of sperm, eggs or embryos or the participation of surrogates. This article focuses on sperm donors: who should choose the donor biomedical staff or recipients, anonymity, and traceability of sperm samples. We present the preliminary results of an ethnographic work carried out in Spain and Denmark with clinics and sperm banks. The interviewed show the new conceptions and relationships that these situations have for different actors involved in assisted reproduction.