The New York Post reported on Sunday that an FDA ban on imported sperm from 30 countries because of concerns about Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease has supplies of Scandinavian sperm at Cryos International’s NYC office running low (apparently Cryos is the place to go if you’re looking for blond hair and blue eyes). That story prompted a number of follow ups, including this piece on CNN today about a woman who used Danish sperm for her first child and would like to again for her second. Cryos’ NYC manager also appeared on NPR’s Day to Day earlier this week to criticize the FDA ban. Both the CNN and NPR segments covered the apparent rise in “fertility tourism.” In this case, it seems that US woman are heading to Denmark to obtain the sperm now in short supply here in the States.
Two thoughts about all this (maybe people who study reproductive ethics out there will have a few more):
-It would seem the data backs up Cryos’ criticism of the FDA ban. A 2006 review paper concluded the chance of vCJD transmission via donated sperm is probably very low.
-This is a topic that people seem totally incapable of talking about without making a joke. The Post gave this story the usual Post treatment. CNN’s John Roberts displayed a certain comic fascination. That NPR segment ended in a fit of giggling. And Cryos’ ads for US donors feature a statue clad in red and white heart boxers (not to mention “Money! Sex! Karma!). Even a 2006 FDA advisory committee meeting featured jokes by the doctors testifying.
-Greg Dahlmann