Infertility is more common than we think, in both women and men. Sometimes, there can be reproductive difficulties for both members of the couple which prevent them from using their own egg and sperm. In these cases, we can look into a double donation treatment, where both eggs and sperm are provided through donors.
This treatment often raises some questions for the future parents about the selection of the donors, the genetics of their children and the resemblance between child and parent. We shall resolve these doubts, but before starting, it is important to get one thing clear: the fact that your child does not carry your DNA does not make it any less yours, nor does it imply that motherhood will be any different.
Selection of donors
The selection process is thoroughly carried out by a multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses, guaranteeing that both meet rigorous requirements that ensure the health and genetic quality which will be passed onto future embryos. Physiognomic aspects are also taken into account.
- Age and health: the objective is to ensure both donors are in an optimal age range and with excellent physical and mental health. In the case of the donor eggs, donors must be below 30 years of age.
- Medical and genetic history: A history of genetic abnormalities, metabolic problems or predisposition to hereditary diseases are ruled out. Specialized tests and analyses are carried out, including a genetic compatibility test between both donors to rule out thousands of recessive mutations, lowering the risk of transmitting alterations to future children.
- Physical similarity: Physical characteristics of patients are taken into account when selecting donors, such as: height, weight, eye colour, hair colour and texture, skin colour and ethnicity. Facial and body features are also used matched as closely as possible. Compatible blood type is also assigned so that future children's blood type is matched to these of the parents-to-be.
Environment and epigenetic
When selecting a donor, education, intelligence, studies, beliefs and interests are not considered to be determining factors. It is the child's upbringing, education and interactions with their social circle that influence these characteristics.
It is the parents who will shape and condition most of the children characteristics. This is known as epigenetic: although the DNA sequence comes from donors, external and environmental factors during treatment and upbringing will influence the expression of those genes. Diet and emotional environments can modify their genetic behavior, without altering the DNA structure, thereby modulating essential characteristics.
Here is another thing to take into consideration: the maternal-child bond will be strong. Experience tells us that many families formed by double donation have been surprised to experience a very strong relationship with their children.