DETERMINATION OF A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATIONS BY DONOR CHILDREN PER SPERM DONOR

Objective: To determine a safe maximum number of artificial inseminati on (donor insemination [DI]) children per anonymous sperm donor. Desig n: Multiparameter calculation model of contribution of DI to inbreedin g. Setting: Data of the collaborative DI centers and demographic popul ation data of The Netherlands. Interventions: Calculations of the cont ribution of DI to inbreeding were made, taking into account all possib le unintentional consanguineous matings and consanguineous inseminatio ns with a coefficient of inbreeding (F) of greater than or equal to 1/ 16 for the offspring. Main Outcome Measure: Coefficient of inbreeding (F). Results: The contribution of DI to inbreeding was estimated to be 46.6 X 10(-6) + k (1.66 X 10(-6)) (k = number of DI children per dono r). When only half-sibling matings were considered, the k(max) was 32. When all possible consanguineous matings and inseminations were taken into account, k(max) decreased with 28% to 25 children. Conclusion: C alculations of a maximum number of DI children per sperm donor, based on possible enhancement of inbreeding and given the Dutch population a nd DI setting, show that 25 children per DI donor is a safe threshold for clinical practice.