More than 1,200 mothers and 900 children impacted by Dutch fertility scandal
A popular Dutch fertility clinic used sperm from dozens of donors far more than the 25 permitted times for over a decade, affecting hundreds of children and mothers.
One of the Netherlands ' largest fertility clinics, Medisch Centrum Kinderwens (MCK), used sperm from at least 36 donors many more times than permitted between 2006 and 2017, Dutch news outlet Nos reported, affecting more than 900 mothers and 1,200 children.
Dutch youth minister Vincent Karremans said it was an 'appalling' case which would understandably lead to anger and questions from those affected.
'They are now confronted with the news that their children belong to a larger kinship network than they had expected or wanted. The children appear to have more half-brothers or -sisters than thought,' he said in response to questions from Nos.
'And the donors appear to have more offspring than they themselves thought. I can imagine that this can have a major impact on each of them.'
In April, Nos's current affairs programme Nieuwsuur shocked the Netherlands when it revealed that Dutch fertility clinic practices had resulted in at least 85 mass donors.
A mass donor is someone who has more than 25 offspring, which was the maximum limit permitted by the country's professional association of gynaecologists until 2018, when the limit was reduced to a maximum of 12 families per donor.
MCK confirmed it had 36 mass donors, and blamed previous management for ignoring the guidelines.
In a statement to Nos, MCK director Wouter van Inzen blamed the number of mass donors on a donor shortage and high demand from mothers, as well as the 'desire for multiple children from the same donor within one family'.
Current management took over in 2015 and ended the practice in 2017, but Mr van Inzen said the clinic decided not to approach the donors and parents involved in the issue 'in consultation with the professional group'.
The Donorkind Foundation, an advocacy group, said: 'Prospective parents are nothing more than paying customers, donors are a kind of raw material and donor children nothing more than products'.
Priamos, the sperm donors' association, said the clinic's actions were "irresponsible and unscrupulous".
Donors were asked from 2006 whether they wanted to donate for 25 families, rather than 25 children, and their contracts allowed a certain number of children to be conceived in other countries.
Priamos said while those contracts were in breach of the rules, all the donors the association spoke to thought donating to 25 families was permitted.
'We are not aware of any donor who was made aware that the rules were being violated. Donors do not need to know the rules either. They can assume that they will be treated fairly by the clinic,' the association told Nos.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Addiction to ketamine rises eight-fold in a decade as powerful tranquiliser becomes popular with Gen Z
DOCTORS have sounded the alarm over an eight-fold rise in ketamine addiction in a decade. The powerful tranquilliser is popular with Generation Z because of its relatively low cost, experts say. Clinics in England treated 3,609 people of all ages for addiction last year, eight times more than 426 in 2014, figures reveal. Ketamine, also referred to as 'K' or 'Ket', numbs pain and can cause a trippy high. Dealers sell it in powder form for around £20 to £40 a gram compared with £40 to £60 a gram for low-quality cocaine. Doctors say heavy use can cause liver disease and permanently damage the bladder and kidneys. It is linked to constipation, depression and loss of mental sharpness. Many medics fail to understand how addictive it can be, an NHS report said. Led by Dr Irene Guerrini of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, it called the drug's prevalence 'concerning'. It said: 'As ketamine use increases, more individuals are seeking treatment for addiction. 'Long-term use can seriously harm both physical and mental health, diminishing quality of life, affecting personal relationships and impairing academic or professional performance.' Dr Guerrini called for stricter guidelines on how the NHS uses the drug and more funds for treatment and prevention. Ministers are considering uprating 34878330from a Class B to Class A drug.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Taking common contraceptive pill long-term could increase your risk of life-threatening brain tumour, scientists warn
TAKING a progesterone-only contraceptive pill for more than five years is linked to an increased risk of a life-threatening brain tumour, say scientists. Desogestrel is a synthetic progestogen hormone used in oral contraceptives, specifically the progestogen-only pill (POP) or mini-pill. 1 While it offers several benefits beyond preventing pregnancy, such as regulating the menstrual cycle, reducing heavy or painful periods, new research suggests taking it continuously for more than five years is linked to a small increased risk of developing an intracranial meningioma. An intracranial meningioma is a tumour that develops from the meninges, the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord. These tumours are typically benign (non- cancerous) and slow-growing. But they can be life-threatening depending on size, location, and growth rate. The tumours are more common in older women, but previous studies lack information on the specific type of progestogen used - and risk has not been measured for continuous, current, and long term use. In the study from France published by The BMJ, researchers set out to assess the real-life risk of the brain tumour and short-term (less than a year) and prolonged (one to seven or more years) use of oral contraceptives containing desogestrel 75µg, levonorgestrel 30µg, or levonorgestrel 50-150 µg combined with oestrogen. Their findings were based on data from the French national health data system (SNDS) for 8,391 women who had undergone surgery for intracranial meningioma in 2020-2023. Each case was matched to 10 control women without meningioma of the same age and area of residence. The results showed a small increased risk associated with use of desogestrel for more than five continuous years. An increased risk wasn't found for shorter durations or when desogestrel had been discontinued for more than one year. Women taking fat jabs need 'effective contraception' - as health chiefs warn of serious harm to unborn babies The risk was greater in women older than 45 and after prolonged use of one of the known high risk progestogens before desogestrel. Although the researchers added the risk disappeared one year after stopping taking the pill. It was estimated that 67,000 women would need to use desogestrel for one woman to need surgery for intracranial meningioma, and 17,000 women if current use was for more than five years. No increased risk was found for levonorgestrel, alone or combined with oestrogen, regardless of duration of use. The researchers suggested desogestrel be discontinued if an intracranial meningioma is identified and patients monitored rather than undergoing immediate surgery. Desogestrel safety Desogestrel, when used as a progestogen-only pill (POP), is generally considered safe and effective, but it has some potential side effects and risks. But it's important to discuss any concerns with a healthcare professional. Highly effective When taken correctly, it's more than 99 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy. No protection against STIs The POP doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections, so it's essential to use condoms for STI protection. Important to take regularly You need to take it at or around the same time every day, without breaks between packs. Possible side effects Ovarian cysts Some users might develop small, fluid-filled cysts on their ovaries, which are generally not dangerous and often resolve on their own. When to seek medical advice
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Experts pinpoint exactly how long you need to use a contraceptive pill to increase your risk of a brain tumour
Millions of women taking the mini-pill could be at increased risk of developing a brain tumour, new research suggests. Experts found that women taking the progestogen-only pill—often dubbed 'the mini-pill' continuously for more than five years were more likely to develop a meningioma. Meningiomas accounts for a third of all brain tumours diagnosed in the UK each year. While usually non-cancerous they can still cause problems they grow larger inside the brain. In the new study, French researchers analysed data from over 8,000 women, with an average age of 60, who had surgery for this form of tumour. They found women who did were more likely to have been taking the mini pill—medically called desogestrel for at least five years. However, independent experts have said women on the medication shouldn't panic, as the increased risk is relatively small. Desogestrel, in contrast to the more famous Pill, only contains one sex hormone progestogen. It is primarily taken by women with underlying health conditions that makes taking other contraceptives dangerous, or who suffer adverse side effects when doing so. The NHS says natural family planning can be up to 99 per cent effective when done correctly and around 75 per cent if not used according to instructions. By comparison, the Pill, implant, IUS and IUD are 99 per cent effective with perfect use, while condoms are 98 per cent While the increased risk of a meningioma was observed, the authors—who published their findings in the British Medical Journal —said it was relatively minor. They outlined that only one out of 67,000 women taking desogestrel will develop a meningioma requiring surgery. The scientists also found that there was no increased risk when the mini pill was used for less than five years. They also found that the increased risk disappeared a year after coming off the mini pill. Meningiomas are a tumour of the membrane that surrounds the brain, with more than 90 per cent of these are not cancerous. While not at risk of spreading elsewhere in the body like a cancerous growth they can still cause patients problems. Every year proportion of meningioma patients will need surgery to remove the tumour due to it causing increased internal pressure on the brain. Common symptoms of a meningioma include a persistent headache as well as constant nausea which is often accompanied with drowsiness. Dr Mangesh Thorat, an expert in population health at Queen Mary University of London, who was not involved in the study, said women on the medication shouldn't be alarmed. 'The magnitude of increase in the risk is small, and short-term use is not associated with increased risk and that the excess risk ceases to exist once the use is stopped for more than a year,' he said. He advised women who may be concerned about their risk to contact their GP. 'Talk to your healthcare provider regarding the drug you are using. If it is associated with an increased risk of meningioma, this can be changed to a safer alternative,' he said. Experts say that a limitation of the study is that the researchers only looked at one type of progestogen pill—desogestrel and not other drugs that also include the hormone. Dr Thorat said: 'the study cannot provide information on the formulations not commonly used in France but used in other countries.' He has called on further studies to be undertaken in different countries. Figures currently suggest around 6 per cent of women aged 16 to 49 use the mini pill in the UK—roughly 3.1 million patients. Taken every day, it works by thickening cervical mucus and thinning the womb lining which helps stop sperm reaching an egg and from a fertilised egg attaching itself in the womb. In some cases, the mini pill can also stop ovulation from occurring. It is 99.7 per cent effective with perfect use but if used incorrectly—such as missing a pill or experiencing nausea and diarrhoea while on it—around one in ten women (9 per cent) may get pregnant. Known side effects of the mini pill—proven to be over 99 per cent effective at stopping pregnancy—include nausea, breast tenderness, mood swings and headaches. Others claim they pile on pounds while taking the drug because of increased fluid retention and appetite. However, the NHS says there is no evidence it leads to weight gain. The latest study comes just a month after British scientists found that women with asthma who are taking the mini pill were a third more likely to suffer an attack.
