Leaving aside all practical/medical/financial issues involved in obtaining them. Suppose hypothetically that someone already some sperm or egg from you and now wanted permission to use them. Would you object to having some anonymous genetic offspring out there with some random person? or would you be pleased? Or no biggie either way?
And what about if you knew the people involved and would thus have some knowledge of your offspring? Would that change things?
We recently went through IVF, and here in Australia you can choose to destroy, donate to science or donate to another couple any left over embryos. Luckily we didn’t get any leftovers (just one very sticky one!), but we did have a lot of long conversations about what we would do in this scenario.
We decided to donate for research purposes, as we were both too uncomfortable with the thought of a 100% genetic child out there (plus at 18 they can find out your identity, so it’s not like they are gone forever).
In the event that it was only 50% mine - egg donation? Sure - the process wasn’t that hard, and I don’t have an emotional connection to my genes in that regard. Mixed with someone elses, it’s especially distant. That would be either to a very close friend/family member, or a complete stranger. There is a real lack of donor eggs here in Australia, and I don’t have a problem participating in this.
No, my genes suck.
Nope. I have numerous problems I would not wish on other people.
Would I mind some random person having my children? Not in the least! I don’t want children myself (though I suppose I’m too young to be 100% certain about that), so someone might as well take advantage of my ability to be fertile. I wouldn’t even mind if the child was raised by friends, though I would encourage my friends not to be specific with their child as to where the egg came from. It would be unpleasant if the child thought I was her ‘true mother’ or anything like that.
Would I mind subjecting some random child to my DNA? Not so sure. My family has a nice handful of hereditary conditions, most of which have left me thankfully unscathed, but I would hope that the sperm donor would be from the other side of the world or something so as to guard against possibly sharing said conditions.
Can’t. Got myself child-proofed.
No, it would creep me out too much. Plus I’d feel responsible.
Yes, I think I would.
I want to share my genes, but I’m not wild about the prospect of having sex. If it weren’t for the discomfort, I’d strongly consider it.
Sure, all the painful medical stuff aside (I guess someone sifted through my menstrual fluid?). I’ve got a big ego and the world must be people. But I would like to interview whoever was going to use it to screen out creeps and weirdos.
Absolutely not. If anyone is going to have my genes, I want to raise them myself.
If I could be assured that I had no financial, legal or other responsibility to any resulting child then no problem. It’s just sperm after all.
Yes, I considered doing egg donation back when I was younger, but never went through with it.
I was a sperm donor when I was 18. I donated to two different couples via a woman’s health clinic. They didn’t tell me, per policy, if either one took. The kids would be 26 years old now. Damn.
What she said.
I know myself well enough that I would never stop wondering, did my egg take? did my “child” ('cause I would feel like it’s my child) get good parents? Wouldn’t be able to stand it.
Beside, medical issues also. Don’t know if I would’ve chosen to have the child I have if I’d know about my illness. I’m glad I didn’t know, 'cause I’m crazy about dat young’un.
If there was enough legal documentation to insure that I wouldn’t be responsible for the offspring…and they could harvest eggs painlessly - they can have all they want. Presently, mine are on the stale side, but in my prime, sure, why not? No genetic issues that anyone is aware of, had WAAYYY more eggs than I needed.
Pretty much what DragonLady said. If it was anonymous or maybe even if they wanted to contact me I suppose after they were 21 or something, I’d be fine with that sort of thing.
I would in a heartbeat but I think my mental illnesses can be passed on, and I would never, EVER wish that on an innocent child.
A random, you’ll never see them/they can’t be found situation is no biggie. Having a kid growing up more or less in the neighborhood would be a much more sticky* situation.
*I just had to say that
Not now that I know there’s a genetic disorder in the family (autism). Before that, sure.
I would, but wouldn’t be eligible because of family medical history. My oldest niece is having an operation next Thursday to remove a cyst on her ovary, just like my two sisters and my mom. There’s something screwed up in our X chromosomes, and I wouldn’t want to inflict that on any female offspring.