Developing a Reproductive Justice Approach to Regulating Formal and Informal Sperm Donation
This essay explores the regulation of sperm donation from a reproductive justice perspective. It compares formal sperm donation, which involves fertility clinics and sperm banks, and informal sperm donation, which arises through social media, classified ads, conversations, etc. While there are reasons some donors and recipients may prefer the informal market, the piece notes the risks associated with the less regulated market. Finally, it examines and responds to concerns about regulating sperm donation, including worries about limiting sperm supply, reproductive autonomy, exceptionalizing assisted reproductive technologies, treating genetic connections as privileged, and majoritarian values hurting marginalized groups. Ultimately, it concludes that concerns about regulating sperm donation should be taken seriously, but rather than using them to prevent regulation, it argues that these objections should guide regulations to promote reproductive justice and equity for many groups, including parents, LGBTQ communities, people of color and donor conceived people.