No problem for me whatsoever. I have 6 frozen embryos that I am going to donate if we decide not to use them ourselves. When my husband and I decided to go the IVF route, we decided that we would give every embryo created the chance at life. These embryos were specifically created in order have a baby-if I can’t use them, then someone else should have the chance.
And thank goodness someone felt it was okay to donate his sperm-my husband has obstructive azoospermia, so we used an anonymous sperm donor to create the embryo that later became my daughter.
And that, friends, is more information than I’m sure you ever wanted to know about my reproductive life.
I have only thought about it while considering a friend of mine, who is infertile due to cancer treatments when she was 15/16. I used to think it would creep me out, but I’m increasingly inclined to think that, if she were ever to ask (which I doubt), I might go through with it. I think I’d want to wait until after I’d had at least one kid of my own, though. I do think that’s a little selfish, but I can’t help but feel that way.
As for donating to a random stranger…I don’t know, and I’d have to think more about how I’d feel. I guess it doesn’t make sense to be willing to do it for a friend that I know (and a kid I’d see regularly) but not for a stranger, but there it is.
Now it’s too late, I’ve been fixed. Before that, when I was in my prime, almost certainly not. There are some health problems in my family history. On top of that, my son has autism and my daughter has adhd-like issues. Even before I knew about my kids’ issues, I would have been extremely reluctant. I didn’t particularly want kids. (Luckily for my kids, Mama Zappa can be very persuasive.) The idea of someone being out there who was genetically related to me but we didn’t know each other creeps me out.
If I had been convinced to donate, I would have insisted that the donation not be anonymous for the family. They could contact me at any time. They could get my medical history at any time. What if I developed a late-onset disease? My kid and his parents should know. I would have no problem leaving the kid’s family alone and anonymous as far as I was concerned. If I knew they could get the medical info they needed I think that would have been good enough for me. I’m weird that way. My idea is probably entirely outside of law and precedent, and so a legal non-starter.
First of all, as a Gay man, I have never wanted children.
Ever.
Secondly, slight possibly of passing on a rare family genetic defect.
Lastly - somewhere I read that there is theory that people who never have children are at the end of their reincarnation cycle - they have finally achieved the goal of completing their lives on this planet. Sounds good to me.
Absolutely. Like most people, I think I’m pretty cool: I’ve got a good head on my shoulders, and a very laid-back, non-confrontational personality (and if you ever met my father, there’d be no doubt that these are genetic predispositions). Basically, I’m egotistical enough to think that the world would be a better place with more people like me in it, so helping to bring forth a Little Me or two is just doing my part. And what’s that you say? I don’t have to spend any time or money raising the kids? Win win!
Considering I’ve already placed a child for adoption, several years ago, I don’t see a problem with donating an egg. It really isn’t MY child if I don’t raise it.
If egg donation were as easy as sperm donation, I’d do it in an instant. Sadly it’s not, so no to the random strangers I’m afraid. I did however talk to my sister just this afternoon about the fertility problems she’s having (they start the long and hideous process of assisted conception this coming week), and told her my reproductive equipment is at her disposal. God I hope she manages to get pregnant herself!
If it was someone that I knew (like, say, a relative who was infertile but wanted a kid who was biologically related to her), I’d say yes in a heartbeat. Random stranger, probably not; I’m not into intrusive medical procedures at ALL, and I understand egg donation is kind of complicated and unpleasant. Besides, I’d be rather creeped out that someone I didn’t know had decided they wanted my genetic material.
No. I feel so…biological… about the kids I do have. I see myself and my husband in them all the time. I don’t think I could think of a baby made of half my genetic material and not think of it as MY baby.
It’s double No for donating to friends and family where I would actually watch the child grow up. I think that would be intolerable for me.
Y’know, there was a similar question asked here awhile back—I didn’t answer then, but I did actually give it a little thought out of curiosity. I think I decided that I’d only donate if it was for a good enough friend that I’d be willing to take a bullet for them.
Not that I have many of those, at the moment. Or a desire to have children otherwise. But hey, if I ever end up the Boromir to your Aragorn (or, god, I dunno, the Mulder to your Scully, or the equivalent), you’re having fertility problems, and you don’t mind offspring with a strong tendency towards serotonin imbalances, you’re in luck!
A few other surprises, too. Happy 40th birthday, kid.
Yeah, I’d do it. Since egg donation isn’t as easy as sperm donation, I’d need to be paid if I did it for a stranger, but I’d do it for free for family. I have pretty good genes, no weird genetic problems or anything. I’ve read stories about how crushing infertility is, and if I could assist someone in that situation, I’d want to.
I’d be perfectly willing to be a sperm donor. The family is tall and healthy, all my grandparents are 85-92 with healthy tickers and active lifestyles(for their age, anyway), no cancers going back at least 3 generations in any direction.
But I don’t want the responsibility of kids. Go figure.
It’d be kinda neat to know I had a couple offspring somewhere out there, but I really wouldn’t care too much, since my total contribution would have been about 5 minutes of my time.
As long as I am assured of no financial/legal responsibility, I’m perfectly ok with it. I don’t care if it’s for someone I know or a perfect stranger. It’s just not that big of a deal to me. However, my friends and family got creeped out by the notion - my mom tried to make me “promise” that I wouldn’t donate. But, that’s not something I can promise. I guess we’re just on different wavelengths.
I don’t think I would have a problem with it, as long as - as you specified - there were no financial repercussions. IOW, I don’t mind you using my sperm, but I won’t fund you.
I’d be happy to be a sperm donor, assuming that all responsibilities ended there. I wouldn’t view them as “my” kid if I had no connection to the family, however; genes only go so far. Wouldn’t mind seeing them post 18 to find out how they turned out though.
Given my large number of lesbian friends, I sometimes wonder if this is ever going to come up for real in my life. It would be very interesting.
