British parents have revealed that the wrong sperm was given to them in fertility clinics abroad to conceive their children.
Parents of at least seven children have come forward and said they believe the wrong donor sperm or egg was given to them in an IVF clinic in Northern Cyprus, a de facto is only legally recognised by Turkey and with its own laws – and no independent fertility regulator.
One British couple, who took a DNA test, have now confirmed that neither of their two children conceived through IVF treatment in that country are biologically related.
Laura and her partner Beth have two children, an eldest daughter Kate and a baby boy James, who were conceived through IVF treatment at Dogus IVF Centre in Northern Cyprus.
In total, they spent around £16,000 on flights, hotels, medication, and Finn’s sperm, which cost £2,000.
After deciding to start a family in 2011, the couple selected a profile donor named ‘Finn’, a Danish man with light skin, fair brown hair, and blue eyes.
But the couple said they knew something wasn’t right ‘pretty soon after James was born’, as he had olive skin and brown eyes.
They had ordered the same donor sperm as had been used to conceive their first child, Kate, who had blue eyes and brown hair, so that the children would be biologically related.
After deliberating over whether to take a DNA test and eventually doing it, however, the couple were furious to find their worst fears confirmed.
The results showed neither child was related to the other, and neither was even related to the sperm donor their parents had carefully chosen.
The couple told the BBC they were ‘absolutely livid’ and left with many unanswered questions, having no certainty who the father of their children was, nor if any screening for health checks was done.
The parents said: ‘We went from having this nice profile of donor Finn and feeling like we knew the family history and the health history, to just nothing.’
Two years on from telling their children that Finn may not be their donor, the couple said James is still coming to terms with the news.
James said: ‘You can’t just say someone’s something and then they’re not. That’s bad.
‘Identity is the main thing. It’s who you are as a person.’
Kate, their eldest daughter, said: ‘We’ve all grown up together and our mums have raised us.
‘We’re still a family even if it’s not by blood.’
Beth and Laura tried contacting the doctors who carried out the treatment, but neither responded.
The BBC spoke to the families of seven other children in total who believe they were given the wrong sperm or egg donor during IVF treatment, all of whom were linked to clinics in Northern Cyprus.
Most of them have done commercial DNA tests which appear to confirm their worst fears.
Beth, Laura, and their children have completed further, accredited DNA tests that can be used as evidence in British courts.
Northern Cyprus has become one of the most popular destinations for British people seeking fertility treatment overseas, due to its low prices, high success rates and looser regulation.
They also offer procedures which are illegal in the UK, such as allowing couples to choose the gender of their baby for non-medical reasons.
Northern Cyprus also does not have an independent fertility regulator to monitor clinics and revoke licenses if necessary.
The de facto state’s Ministry of Health oversees its fertility clinics but did not respond to the BBC’s findings.
The Daily Mail contacted Dogus IVF Fertility Clinic for comment.
The families spoke to the BBC for its investigation Sunshine & Secrets: The Hidden Side of IVF, which is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.
