Ynet found that on Sunday, the donor is used by Danish sperm banks exporting to Israel. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health confirmed that none of the donor sperm was used locally.
This incident, which is limited to the European Union, has argued for genetic screening and supervision. Israeli regulations require tests for about 300 genetic diseases, but experts warn that this is not dealing with all risks. Israel also lacks legally defined limitations on the number of families who can receive sperm from a single donor.
Dr. Micha Baum, director of the sperm bank manager of Sheba Medical Center, said, “There is no way to limit the clear limit.” “According to the 2007 Health Guidelines, sperm banks have to avoid many children per donor, but many are not defined.” Sheba’s internal limit is usually up to 12 families per donor.
International sperm banks, where many Israeli women get wider donors, often allow much more. In the United States, the upper limit is 25 children per 800,000 donors, which allows up to 100 births from a donor in the Tel Aviv region if it is applied locally. Some European banks allow more than 25 to 75 families per donor.
Dr. Baum said the main concern is to prevent hidden genetic relationships. “Patients are worried about accidental incest,” he pointed out. “Fortunately, in Israel, children born through sperm donation generally know, and the hospital can check the record. He added that limiting the descendants will help to include effects if genetic defects are later found.
Dr. Micha BaumPhoto: Sheba Medical CenterAccording to Baum, the Israeli sperm donor can only be donated to a bank. Their partial information is recorded in the health database, and even prevents the crossbank donation.
He said foreign donors raised greater risks. Many Israeli women prefer overseas donors because they can access photos and personal information. “This is important to some people,” he added.
‘Some women use 40 samples.’
Dr. YIGAL MADJAR, director of Assuta SUPERM BANK, said that the internal limit of the hospital is 10 to 12 families per donor. However, it is difficult to implement limitations without a binding legislation. “Some women use 40 samples and do not pregnant, but other women immediately get pregnant. Women should report pregnancy, but many people move the city or change relationships.
IVF clinics and health fund childbirth centers are often not updated to sperm banks, he said. “Even if modifications occur, 30%of pregnancy fails. Also, embryos are not delivered at once. Some frozen later, so tracking is almost impossible without more resources and cooperation.”
MADJAR demanded a clear bill. “It’s confusing without a structured system. The Ministry of Health is now writing an official written protocol for sperm banks.”
Ministry of Health: There is no donor game in Israel
Regarding the current case, Madjar said that the donor has a rare TP53 gene mutation, which affects the tumor suppression and is not included in the standard genetic screening. Currently, Israel tests donors and prisoners for 295 genes, while ASUTA examines 500 people. “But we can’t test 20,000 diseases.”
He added that the actual problem is that it is difficult to track the number of children’s children’s children, starting when the donor sample is sold to several countries. “The imported sperm simply increases the risk of genetic cases due to scale,” he warned.
The Ministry of Health said in a statement that “Israeli sperm banks operate under the guidelines of the 2007 director, and banks must limit the number of donations per donor.” “Since 2021, the ministry has maintained a donor database to maintain the donor database.
“Sperm banks must report to the ministry if the genetic defect is confirmed by the donor or descendants. Then the ministry can notify the relevant parties and stop the use of the sperm of the donor.”
