At Least 30 Children Feared Conceived With Wrong Donors in Northern Cyprus

At least 30 children are feared to have been conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in northern Cyprus using the wrong sperm or egg donors. According to the available information, most of the children affected by these troubling procedures are British families who travelled abroad for fertility treatments.

Half of the estimated 30 children were born following medical procedures carried out at just one specific facility, the Dogus IVF Centre. Investigations into the operations of these clinics have raised serious questions regarding oversight, tracking, and the handling of genetic material during fertility treatments.

To date, eleven of the 30 children have taken commercial DNA tests to learn more about their biological heritage. The results of these tests show that the children have inherited genetic ancestry originating from Turkey or surrounding countries, which does not match the intended donor profiles provided to the parents.

Cryos International, a major sperm bank, has blacklisted the Dogus clinic since 2016. Furthermore, Cryos International has explicitly stated that it has no record of ever delivering sperm to the Dogus clinic, adding further complexity to the sourcing of the genetic material used in these treatments.

Affected individuals and advocates have voiced strong condemnation regarding the unfolding situation. Rachel, whose child was impacted, described the situation by stating, "It's absolutely scandalous." She added, "I used to think the clinic had made a one-off mistake," but noted that "it feels like this is something much bigger and more deceitful." Rachel also explained her initial intentions, stating, "I wanted any child of mine to have the choice of being able to contact the donor," and emphasizing that "For a child trying to figure out who they are in the world, it could be really important."

Laura Bridgens from Donor Conceived UK also spoke out about the gravity of the situation. Bridgens stated, "These reports are deeply troubling," and added that "It's a fundamental human right for a donor-conceived person to know the truth about their origins." The unfolding developments continue to draw scrutiny from families, organizations, and authorities including the Ministry of Health in northern Cyprus, alongside figures such as Dr Sevket Alpturk, Dr Firdevs Uguz Tip, and Julie Hodson.