Donor insemination

Artificial insemination by semen from a donor may be performed in cases of male infertility or failure of modern methods of ART (ICSI) as well as to prevent the risk of genetic diseases. As a result of this therapy, which is regulated by public law § 1600 BGB, approximately 1,000 children are born in Germany every year. For the first time the German Medical Association has recently released a proposal on guidelines for the use of donor semen. However, important topics, such as the child's right of knowledge of its genetic origin still remain to be regulated in more detail. Of the parents 80% do not want to inform the child about its genetic origin and wish a treatment in secrecy. Conflicting points in the present practice (e.g. recruitment of donors, documentation, secrecy or openness) should be regulated in the future. Artificial insemination by donor has gained validity as a scientifically based treatment in the field of reproductive medicine. © 2007 Springer Medizin Verlag.