‘I knew something wasn’t right’: Wrong sperm given to families by IVF clinics

Soon after James was born, Laura sensed something was off. Alongside her partner Beth, she and her partner had two children—James and their eldest, Kate—both created through IVF at a Northern Cyprus clinic. They used their own eggs and selected an anonymous, healthy sperm donor, emphasizing the importance of using the same provider for both pregnancies to ensure biological ties. Yet, James’ “beautiful” brown eyes stood out as different from Beth’s and the donor they had chosen, igniting concerns in the parents.

“Had our clinic made a mistake?”

After nearly a decade of uncertainty, Beth and Laura opted for DNA testing. The results revealed neither child shared a genetic link with the donor they had requested. Worse still, the evidence suggested the siblings weren’t even related to one another. “The dread came from wondering what this meant for the children,” Beth reflects.

Experts note that Northern Cyprus has become a favored destination for UK patients seeking fertility treatments abroad. Clinics there operate under less stringent regulations, offering competitive pricing and high success rates. They also market a diverse pool of international donors, attracting individuals facing fertility challenges, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and single parents.

The territory’s Ministry of Health supervises these clinics but has yet to respond to the findings. Building trust with affected families took months, with the BBC working closely with Beth, Laura, Kate, and James to share their experience. The couple began their journey in 2011, selecting the Dogus IVF Centre. At the time, patient coordinator Julie Hodson assured them the clinic could source frozen sperm from Cryos International in Denmark.

They were drawn to donor Finn, a Dane with a profile highlighting his fitness and health. In a handwritten note, Finn expressed his desire to “bring life and happiness to others.” Beth and Laura hoped this detail would comfort their children as they grew. “It was really important that our kids had some connection to their donor,” Beth explains.

Finn’s physical traits mirrored those of the UK couple, as revealed by a family tree. When they inquired about reusing Finn’s sperm, Hodson simply said: “Dr Firdevs will order it for you.” The couple’s treatment, including medication, lodging, and travel, totaled around £16,000. Finn’s sperm alone cost £2,000. The clinic’s staff, including Dr Firdevs Uguz Tip, were described as “nice and friendly” by the parents.

Investigations have uncovered similar cases involving seven families. Commercial DNA tests have validated their suspicions, pointing to errors in donor selection. Northern Cyprus, not recognized by the EU, provides a legal framework that differs from the UK, allowing procedures like non-medical sex selection. The families’ trust in the system was shaken, yet their story remains one of many in a growing concern over IVF accuracy abroad.