Donor Insemination Vs. American Ethics
...ination, a sperm bank must sell sperm to the interested people. The California Sperm Bank’s website gives lots of information to interested donors as well as interested recipients. The site explains how to become a donor, how to participate in donor insemination, requirements for donors and perspective parents, a cost list and procedure information. Donors can be unknown, identity release or a friend of the recipients’. The identity release program is for people who want their children to be able to get their biological father’s name and address after they turn a certain age, usually 18. The donor must agree to be part of this program as well. Identity release is a popular form of donor insemination because most recipients believe that it is important for their children to have a choice in the matter. (The California Sperm Bank) As was stated earlier, donors undergo extensive physicals to check their physical and mental status. Some banks even have mental health professionals on staff to make sure that the donor is mentally stable enough to share their genes. This health information is then given to potential donor recipients so that they can choose the type of donor that best fits their requirements. (Schover, 167) Most sperm banks also keep three generations of information regarding the donor’s family. The bank can then go back and check the genetic background of the donor to see if problems the child may be having are genetic. (The California Sperm Bank) Also, some banks keep genetic material from the donor for several reasons. One is to test the material if the child ends up with a serious illness. Another is in case the family chooses to have more than one child from the same donor. (The California Sperm Bank) Some downfalls to sperm banks are the lack of enforced guidelines and the possibility that donors are not telling the truth about their history. Not all sperm banks follow guidelines set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine or get inspected or accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks. It’s unfortunate, but sperm banks don’t have to follow the guidelines that these organizations suggest. It’s important to check out sperm banks before using them, and make sure that they are accredited and follow procedures accordingly. (The California Sperm Bank) Even though sperm banks do extensive research on each donor’s health, they don’t have much more information than that. A donor can give a sperm bank false information and they may never know it. The good thing is that there are a variety of tests given to each donor that determine whether or not their sperm can be given out to recipients. (Schover, 166) It is difficult for our society to comprehend a situation where someone would voluntarily choose to use a stranger’s sperm to create a child. This contradicts our morals and ethics, so we dismiss the idea and criticize those who use donor insemination. Ethics are “systems of morals, standards or values” (Neufeldt, 466). American society puts a huge emphasis on morality and ethics. Unfortunately, many of those beliefs are considered out of date because the world is changing so much. It is also difficult for people to change their attitudes towards ethics as time goes by. They’ve lived their whole lives believing that certain things were right and wrong, so they won’t change without a fight. Americans believe that not knowing who your child’s father is, is irresponsible and troublesome for the child. Women who don’t have fathers for their children are considered easy and promiscuous. When a single woman wants to have a child without a male partner in her life, she is looked down on and considered selfish. Lesbian couples are criticized about many things, including having children. The idea of homosexuality is still not accepted by many people in our society. And, gay and lesbian couples are just getting the right to marry each other legally. Progress is slow when it comes to this particular group of people, so it will take even longer for people to accept the fact that same sex couples want to have families. Heterosexual couples that cannot have children are expected to live with their disability. Many believe that these couples should adopt because there are already children all over the world who need families. Different people believe in different things. Some people are comfortable with issues like donor insemination, and other are not. But, just because certain groups are not comfortable doesn’t mean that they should be critical. “… people experience in their own lives many situations for which traditional concepts of morality offer little guidance…” (Wolfe, 229). Many people struggle with the fact that by taking part in donor insemination, much of society is looking down on them. Thus, they keep it a secret, even from the people they are close to. This isn’t how people living in a free society should feel about important decisions they make to better their lives. As a book about male infertility states, “…the United States tends to allow public opinion and local laws to control infertility technology…” (Schover, 169). Since the majority of people in the U.S. believe in traditional ethics, new technology is not being given the credit it deserves. While public opinion is holding the country back, people are suffering because they are not being accepted due to personal choices they’ve made. There are many benefits to donor insemination that society should hear before they pass judgment on people who use it. (Schover, 169) Donor insemination is the least expensive form of infertility treatment. Some people will spend their life savings on trying to get pregnant. When that money runs out, and nothing else has worked, it is easy for them to turn to donor insemination. It provides an opportunity for childless people to finally have the family they’ve been hoping for. Donor insemination also doesn’t take very many cycles. Healthy women usually get pregnant after only four to six treatments, which, by comparison to other infertility treatments, is incredibly fast. This is a simple and painless procedure that most women are willing to go through more than once to have a larger family. (Schover, 160) The history of each donor is kept on file for a number a years, so that children are able to look up their medical history if needed. And, since donors are tested about every six months, women getting inseminated can be sure that the sperm they are using is healthy and safe. (Schover, 160) Another positive aspect of donor insemination is that donors can be chosen based on the male partner’s appearance. This provides more of an opportunity for the male partner to feel part of the pregnancy. Once the child is born, there is a chance that no one will even know that the child is not the male partner’s. It is important that both women and men feel comfortable with this procedure. (Schover, 160) Most women who have tried donor insemination are extremely happy with the experience and would recommend it to others who are having trouble conceiving (Koch, 180). In fact, many women say that having the choice to use donor insemination empowers them. They feel that they are in control of their bodies because they can choose which sperm to use and how the insemination will take place. Single women and lesbians find donor insemination to be a wonderful technology. They are now able to have children without having to invite a father figure into the child’s life. (Schover, 183) Not all aspects of donor insemination are positive for women. Sometimes women will experience backlash regarding their decision. As one woman says, “I strongly feel the judgment of others about my decision to try D.I. [donor insemination]. Single women who adopt are considered selfless angels. I think that those of us who attempt pregnancy through D.I. are viewed as tainted or promiscuous” (Harkness, 269). This belief can deter some women from even trying this treatment, but most are willing to accept the negative aspects to finally have a family. People choosing donor insemination also have to decide whether or not they are going to tell their family and friends, as well as the child. This can create a lot of tension in a relationship or family, but is usually dealt with in a very understanding manner. People who do find it a problem at first say that their loved ones become more accepting as time goes on. When things are put in the open and discussed intelligently, most donor insemination users are happy to tell their loved ones. (Harkness, 270) Women have a lot of things to think about when it comes to donor insemination and it takes awhile to come to a concrete decision regarding this treatment. Thankfully, technology has provided a way for women to take control of their destinies and expe...