Sperm donors are a breed apart
Source: Agencies |
November 12, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MEN who pass a screening process and donate to sperm banks in Sweden score better on personality measures, such as responsibility, confidence and self-acceptance, than other men in their peer group, according to a Swedish study.
Sweden was the first country to pass a so-called non-anonymous law, which entitles children to contact the sperm donor if they choose. The UK, Australia and other nations require donor consent to being contacted.
The US allows donors to remain anonymous and to be paid, unlike Sweden, where men can only volunteer.
The non-anonymous laws could be a problem for both sides, as nobody can prepare themselves for their reactions if a child decides to contact the biological father, according to Gunilla Sydsjo, lead author of the study and a professor at Sweden's Linkoping University.
She said: "A decision made at the age of 25 might be crystal clear for the individual at that time but might take on other dimensions 20 years later. We have, in this study, shown that the men who are accepted for the program were all in the normal range of character and also demonstrated a mature personality and a stable character."
The study, published in the British obstetrics and gynec-ology journal BJOG, looked at 115 men who donated sperm at clinics in Sweden between 2005 and 2008, comparing them with men of similar age who did not donate sperm.
On two measures, self-directedness and cooperativeness, the donors scored higher than the comparison group, showing that they pursue goals, stick to their values and take responsibility, researchers said.
The donors scored lower on one measure - "harm avoidance."
Researchers said: "This indicates the sperm donors described themselves as being less worried, uncertain, shy and less subject to fatigue."
All other personality traits, including persistence and novelty-seeking behaviors, were similar between the two groups.
The results suggested the donors would not be put out if a child decides to contact him, according to Robert Oates, president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, who was not involved in the study.
Sweden was the first country to pass a so-called non-anonymous law, which entitles children to contact the sperm donor if they choose. The UK, Australia and other nations require donor consent to being contacted.
The US allows donors to remain anonymous and to be paid, unlike Sweden, where men can only volunteer.
The non-anonymous laws could be a problem for both sides, as nobody can prepare themselves for their reactions if a child decides to contact the biological father, according to Gunilla Sydsjo, lead author of the study and a professor at Sweden's Linkoping University.
She said: "A decision made at the age of 25 might be crystal clear for the individual at that time but might take on other dimensions 20 years later. We have, in this study, shown that the men who are accepted for the program were all in the normal range of character and also demonstrated a mature personality and a stable character."
The study, published in the British obstetrics and gynec-ology journal BJOG, looked at 115 men who donated sperm at clinics in Sweden between 2005 and 2008, comparing them with men of similar age who did not donate sperm.
On two measures, self-directedness and cooperativeness, the donors scored higher than the comparison group, showing that they pursue goals, stick to their values and take responsibility, researchers said.
The donors scored lower on one measure - "harm avoidance."
Researchers said: "This indicates the sperm donors described themselves as being less worried, uncertain, shy and less subject to fatigue."
All other personality traits, including persistence and novelty-seeking behaviors, were similar between the two groups.
The results suggested the donors would not be put out if a child decides to contact him, according to Robert Oates, president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, who was not involved in the study.
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