<p>Peach, the difference is that plasma does not create offspring - small ethical difference n’est pas?
what ever college your boys are going to I hope they have better physio classes then the one you took!</p>
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<p>This sounds a bit heartless, but my knee-jerk reaction is, “Wow, this would make a great genetics study…”</p>
<p>If intelligent / Ivy-League parents have a higher likelihood of producing autistic children (esp. when both of the gametes have been ‘purchased’), when the parents didn’t exhibit autism spectrum characteristics, it would shed some interesting light on the role of genetics in brain development.</p>
<p>I don’t think I could bring myself to donating sperm…Not because of the mental hurdles, but the physical ones. Going into a sterile exam room and masturbating into a cup is a lot of pressure!</p>
<p>I cannot imagine my son telling me this under any circumstance–even if he was being waterboarded. I’m sure I would not get a vote on it. I try to talk to him about sex and he’s not any happier to hear it at 19 than he was at 12. Now I just tease him with the line from Steve Martin in The Jerk, when he’s talking about finding out what his “special purpose” is for. I say,“Do we need to talk about your special purpose?”</p>
<p>OTOH, there are many lovely people who are unable to have their own children. Dont they deserve a chance? I can not imagine the heartbrake of wanting children and it not being able to happen. </p>
<p>Cal – I love your answer.</p>
<p>Can DNA testing be used to estimate degree of consanguinity for partners who are unsure of ancestry?</p>
<p>After I read an article on sperm and egg donation I was struck by the fact that none of my three beautiful, smart and kind children would likely meet the criteria for donation. My son is 5’7". They all have asthma. One daughter is severely myopic. Not that I would support them doing it, but the idea of who is deemed desirable gave me pause.</p>
<p>I’m with Calmom, who is more concerned about the traditional donations of sperm. A friend of mine just became a grandmother, and the situation is not a good one. Irresponsibility, and now a child is involved.</p>
<p>I’m with cptofthehouse and calmom…I’m worried about the voluntary freebie donations… A friend is a very young grandmother. Another is a very young great grandmother and just found out there is a second baby on the way to this still unmarried couple!
At least with a sperm donation situation theoretically the subsequent child is wanted and expected by responsible parents who are choosing parenthood.</p>
<p>From post #4: “$1100/month is nothing to sneeze at.”</p>
<p>I’m not a medical doctor, but I don’t think sneezing is involved in the process. But if it is, gesuhdheit.</p>
<p>LOL^^^ Great one!</p>
<p>Sell my grandchildren? No way!</p>
<p>"So the question is, are they master of their domain? "</p>
<p>LOL! My husband gave me the Seinfeld “Scene It” for Christmas.</p>
<p>"Not that I would support them doing it, but the idea of who is deemed desirable gave me pause. "</p>
<p>Didn’t read it, but I was thinking the same thing. Any market for a future cc kid, mabye looking for an “affirmative action” hook?</p>
<p>A friend did it for the $$. I remember him complaining that the dirty magazines they gave him were obviously picked out by women. And as a result, it took much longer then it should have.</p>
<p>I would be fine with it. My son is such a thoughtful kid that I know he wouldn’t donate without thinking the implications through. He is an adult and his sperm is his to do with what he wants. I draw a line at influencing his sperm! </p>
<p>We have talked long and seriously about the implications of accidental “donations” because this worries me much more. It’s the children he WILL be responsible for one day that I think about!</p>
<p>This gets filed under “things that are none of my business once he is 18.”</p>
<p>My grandchildren will be the children my son raises; the DNA of the matter is completely irrelevant.</p>
<p>I’m an athletic, musical, healthy medical student… how do I get in on this?</p>
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<p>Could not agree more. However, easy for me to say as I do not have boys.</p>
<p>If somehow I wanted to carry a baby of my own, and my husband had medical issues, I’d prefer that our baby still have 1/2 of our genes if possible.</p>
<p>I agree that college students are too young to really understand that this could have ramifications on their life in the future. For instance, what if his future wife has a problem with it because she doesn’t like the idea that he has other kids “floating around” out there? What if the sperm bank is unethical and sells his sperm 50 times? What if out of idle curiosity one day he checks out one of these “find your donor” websites and sees that there are these real live people out there who want to know him and for him to be part of their lives? I know they could never have a rule like this, but I think a man could make a more reasonable decision about this after he has had a child of his own.</p>
<p>I went through infertility, adopted one child, and then gave birth to two, so I am not at all insensitive to the plight of infertile couples, but from the perspective of my son being a potential donor, I just think it’s a bad idea.</p>
<p>I don’t understand the “possible future ramifications”. Uhh… what? Being a biological “parent” is a lot different than being a parent. Even as a female, it wouldn’t bother me at all. I would never think twice about it. Especially at the prospect of $20,000. Say, what are the risks?</p>