May 31, 2012 8:09 AM GMT
So this is kind of a complicated topic and I'm making myself vulnerable by sharing my opinions and asking for advice. I don't really like making myself vulnerable and leaving myself open to attack, so here are a couple disclaimers: I don't really know a whole lot about this sort of thing, so my opinions are based on hearsay and online videos and shit. In addition, I'm young and dumb and don't really know what I want from life, so I might feel totally different in, like, a week. Lastly, this is a lot to read, so... sorry.
I mentioned this briefly in another thread, but I'm interested in hearing others' opinions and/or experiences, so I made it a separate thread. I've thought about possibly becoming a sperm donor later in life. I like the idea of offering the opportunity to give birth to child to a woman who might not otherwise be able to get pregnant, whether she's gay or straight, single or married. But it's not a decision I'd want to make lightly.
I've heard that co-parenting situations rarely ever work out and I wouldn't want to put a child through the possible emotional and legal complications. So I'm talking about a situation where I would be giving up all legal rights as a parent, probably not even meeting with the kid until he or she was 18. I just think that would be easier, emotionally, for me and the kid alike.
But even with regard to that scenario, I have a couple hangups. I'd like to be certain that any offspring of mine would be growing up in a loving and safe home. It seems to me that most people who use sperm donors must really want children, so that should take care of itself, right? But then you hear about crazies like Octomom... To the best of my knowledge, sperm donation is still highly unregulated in the U.S. Do some sperm banks have strict regulations, like background checks on sperm donors/receivers, limits on how many pregnancies can result from the donations of a single donor, etc.?
Anyway, I'm interested in any opinions/information/experiences you guys might have. Have any RJers donated sperm? Through a sperm bank? Through a private agreement? Do you know of anyone who has? What was the experience like? Were there any regrets?
Thanks.
I mentioned this briefly in another thread, but I'm interested in hearing others' opinions and/or experiences, so I made it a separate thread. I've thought about possibly becoming a sperm donor later in life. I like the idea of offering the opportunity to give birth to child to a woman who might not otherwise be able to get pregnant, whether she's gay or straight, single or married. But it's not a decision I'd want to make lightly.
I've heard that co-parenting situations rarely ever work out and I wouldn't want to put a child through the possible emotional and legal complications. So I'm talking about a situation where I would be giving up all legal rights as a parent, probably not even meeting with the kid until he or she was 18. I just think that would be easier, emotionally, for me and the kid alike.
But even with regard to that scenario, I have a couple hangups. I'd like to be certain that any offspring of mine would be growing up in a loving and safe home. It seems to me that most people who use sperm donors must really want children, so that should take care of itself, right? But then you hear about crazies like Octomom... To the best of my knowledge, sperm donation is still highly unregulated in the U.S. Do some sperm banks have strict regulations, like background checks on sperm donors/receivers, limits on how many pregnancies can result from the donations of a single donor, etc.?
Anyway, I'm interested in any opinions/information/experiences you guys might have. Have any RJers donated sperm? Through a sperm bank? Through a private agreement? Do you know of anyone who has? What was the experience like? Were there any regrets?
Thanks.
