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25 July 2025 / Aysel Akhundova
Issue: 8126 / Categories: Features , Family , Child law , Health , Health & safety , Regulatory
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The dark side of sperm donation

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Unregulated practice risks turning the dream of parenthood into a legal nightmare: Aysel Akhundova sets out the far-reaching & costly consequences
  • Unregulated sperm donation bypasses the protections of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, exposing families to legal disputes over parenthood, lack of medical screening, and potential health risks.
  • Children born through unregulated arrangements may lack access to vital genetic information, while parents face ongoing anxiety due to legal uncertainties and absence of enforceable agreements.
  • This article advocates for stronger regulation, public awareness, and improved access to licensed fertility services to mitigate the growing risks of the unregulated sperm donation market.

Beneath the surface of increased accessibility to parenthood lurks a hidden danger—the rise of unregulated sperm donation. A quick internet search reveals numerous platforms where individuals can find sperm donors online, with some offering their ‘services’ for free, including both artificial insemination and natural conception arrangements. Family lawyers would gasp at this development, as we are well aware of the profound legal implications.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

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Sponsored by
Arc Pensions Law—Matthew Swynnerton

Arc Pensions Law—Matthew Swynnerton

Chair of the Association of Pension Lawyers joins as partner

Ampa Group—Kamal Chauhan

Ampa Group—Kamal Chauhan

Group names Shakespeare Martineau partner head of Sheffield office

Blake Morgan—four promotions

Blake Morgan—four promotions

Four legal directors promoted to partner across UK offices

NEWS
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A wealthy Russian divorce battle has produced a sharp warning about trying to challenge foreign nuptial agreements in the wrong English court. Writing in NLJ this week, Vanessa Friend and Robert Jackson of Hodge Jones & Allen examine Timokhin v Timokhina, where the High Court enforced Russian judgments arising from a prenuptial agreement despite arguments based on the landmark Radmacher decision
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An obscure Victorian tort may be heading for an unexpected revival after a significant Privy Council ruling that could reshape liability for dangerous escapes, according to Richard Buckley, barrister and emeritus professor of law at the University of Reading
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