title: Disposition of sperm donors with resultant abnormal pregnancies.
abstract: We wished to determine how clinicians manage sperm donors whose offspring have chromosomal or structural abnormalities. A directed, multiple-choice survey was given to reproductive endocrinologists and obstetrical geneticists to assess management of sperm donors whose offspring have chromosomal or structural abnormalities. The questionnaire was completed by 66 reproductive endocrinologists and obstetrical geneticists. Abnormalities and the most common inheritance modes included: Trisomy 21 (aneuploidy, maternal origin), Turner syndrome (aneuploidy, paternal origin), cleft lip/palate (multifactorial), VATER sequence (vertebral defects, imperforate anus, tracheo-esophageal fistula, radial and renal dysplasia, sporadic inheritance), and Hurler syndrome (autosomal recessive). Response choices were: (i) remove donor from programme, (ii) inform potential recipients of prior pregnancy outcomes and continue to use donor, or (iii) further study donor to assess karyotype/mutations. Inheritance mode appeared to influence decisions to remove donors from sperm banks; however, no clear consensus was noted. Guidelines exist for screening potential gamete donors, but not for managing donors whose offspring has a chromosomal or structural abnormality. Guidelines must be developed to manage sperm donors with untoward pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7516, USA. Jeffrey_Kuller@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kuller
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Traynor
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities; D004704:Endocrinology; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012099:Reproductive Techniques; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors