4 ms·

Is there an ethical problem with the idea of sperm banks?

by zxcmx 7y ago

swirepe 7y ago
It's a stretch, but maybe they're talking about anonymous vs non-anymous donors? That's the biggest thing in the ethics section of the Wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_donation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_donation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_tourism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_tourism
- lurquer 7y ago
  Let's take a step back for a second... whether one agrees or not, it is obvious and not fairly deniable that this type of reproduction was illegal in most countries until just a few decades ago. Many major religions condemn the practice. (Until relatively recently, ALL branches of Christianity condemned it.) It would be worth mentioning the underlying reasons for these views in such an article. Allow me to be blunt (at the risk of getting downvoted): Does jerking off and selling your cum to strange women raise ethical issues? I think the question answers itself.
  - swirepe 7y ago
    > Does jerking off and selling your cum to strange women raise ethical issues? I agree, cum should be free. Eggs I can see paying for because the supply is limited, but things like blood or semen should be free.
chomp 7y ago
Off the top of my head, I can think of a couple: - Anonymity vs non-anonymity: does a child have a right to know who their biological parent is? Is it ethical to donate, create offspring, and remain anonymous? Some family predispositions to certain health issues aren't fully understood (I didn't realize my family had a predisposition to dementia until just a couple years ago when my grandparents started nearing end of life), these genetic anomalies aren't always known at time of donation, and thus won't be handed over to the offspring. Another issue, some sperm banks send out cease and desists when the children attempt to track down the biological father. (Thanks 23andme!) Is it ethical for a sperm bank to threaten legal ramifications on people who attempt to contact their biological father? - Age restrictions: We don't currently fully understand the effect of male age on creating children. Some studies suggest that there is a higher rate of autism, but this is only just now coming to light. Many sperm banks don't have much on age restrictions. - Number of donor offspring: Is it ethical to allow numerous offspring from one sample? There are cases where a single male has fathered over 100 children, way way more than any normal male. - Are sperm banks a form of eugenics? Sperm banks have differing policies on the acceptance of "Acceptable" sperm; e.g. certain height, low obesity propensity, college background, etc. If a sperm bank offers the top 1% genetic material, and people can pay to have elite genetic children, is this ethical?
- lyxsus1 7y ago
  Let me help you. > does a child have a right to know who their biological parent is? Not necessarily > Is it ethical to donate, create offspring, and remain anonymous? Yes > Some family predispositions to certain health issues aren't fully understood ... these genetic anomalies aren't always known at time of donation, and thus won't be handed over to the offspring Same thing with conservative methods, not relevant > Is it ethical for a sperm bank to threaten legal ramifications on people who attempt to contact their biological father? Yes > We don't currently fully understand the effect of male age on creating children. Again, not relevant > Is it ethical to allow numerous offspring from one sample? Yes > Are sperm banks a form of eugenics? Sometimes, yes > If a sperm bank offers the top 1% genetic material, and people can pay to have elite genetic children, is this ethical? Yes
  - new2626 7y ago
    This is not "help", but a flippant answer not addressing any of the interesting points brought up in the parent comment.
    - lyxsus1 7y ago
      Flippant – yes, interesting points – really not. My problem is with grandparent comment. I don't get how it's permissible to discuss ethics of other peoples reproductive choices.

Is there an ethical problem with the idea of sperm banks?

by zxcmx 7y ago

Is there an ethical problem with the idea of sperm banks?

It's a stretch, but maybe they're talking about anonymous vs non-anymous donors? That's the biggest thing in the ethics section of the Wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_donation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_donation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_tourism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_tourism

lurquer 7y ago
Let's take a step back for a second... whether one agrees or not, it is obvious and not fairly deniable that this type of reproduction was illegal in most countries until just a few decades ago. Many major religions condemn the practice. (Until relatively recently, ALL branches of Christianity condemned it.) It would be worth mentioning the underlying reasons for these views in such an article. Allow me to be blunt (at the risk of getting downvoted): Does jerking off and selling your cum to strange women raise ethical issues? I think the question answers itself.
- swirepe 7y ago
  > Does jerking off and selling your cum to strange women raise ethical issues? I agree, cum should be free. Eggs I can see paying for because the supply is limited, but things like blood or semen should be free.

chomp 7y ago

Off the top of my head, I can think of a couple: - Anonymity vs non-anonymity: does a child have a right to know who their biological parent is? Is it ethical to donate, create offspring, and remain anonymous? Some family predispositions to certain health issues aren't fully understood (I didn't realize my family had a predisposition to dementia until just a couple years ago when my grandparents started nearing end of life), these genetic anomalies aren't always known at time of donation, and thus won't be handed over to the offspring. Another issue, some sperm banks send out cease and desists when the children attempt to track down the biological father. (Thanks 23andme!) Is it ethical for a sperm bank to threaten legal ramifications on people who attempt to contact their biological father? - Age restrictions: We don't currently fully understand the effect of male age on creating children. Some studies suggest that there is a higher rate of autism, but this is only just now coming to light. Many sperm banks don't have much on age restrictions. - Number of donor offspring: Is it ethical to allow numerous offspring from one sample? There are cases where a single male has fathered over 100 children, way way more than any normal male. - Are sperm banks a form of eugenics? Sperm banks have differing policies on the acceptance of "Acceptable" sperm; e.g. certain height, low obesity propensity, college background, etc. If a sperm bank offers the top 1% genetic material, and people can pay to have elite genetic children, is this ethical?

lyxsus1 7y ago
Let me help you. > does a child have a right to know who their biological parent is? Not necessarily > Is it ethical to donate, create offspring, and remain anonymous? Yes > Some family predispositions to certain health issues aren't fully understood ... these genetic anomalies aren't always known at time of donation, and thus won't be handed over to the offspring Same thing with conservative methods, not relevant > Is it ethical for a sperm bank to threaten legal ramifications on people who attempt to contact their biological father? Yes > We don't currently fully understand the effect of male age on creating children. Again, not relevant > Is it ethical to allow numerous offspring from one sample? Yes > Are sperm banks a form of eugenics? Sometimes, yes > If a sperm bank offers the top 1% genetic material, and people can pay to have elite genetic children, is this ethical? Yes
- new2626 7y ago
  This is not "help", but a flippant answer not addressing any of the interesting points brought up in the parent comment.
  - lyxsus1 7y ago
    Flippant – yes, interesting points – really not. My problem is with grandparent comment. I don't get how it's permissible to discuss ethics of other peoples reproductive choices.