DIY babies: Controls and loopholes

Yes. The clinic behind the DIY babies has not broken any laws. This is because existing legislation only governs the use of stored sperm - and Men Not Included uses fresh sperm.

To get a licence from the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority, clinics must ensure that all sperm donations are fully screened for sexually transmitted diseases before they are used for fertility treatment. Some illnesses, such as HIV, cannot be detected for months, meaning samples must be stored, usually for six months.

The law says that all clinics dealing in sperm storage must have a licence from the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority Act. This does not take account of clinics offering services which use fresh sperm.

Is it safe?

Not very. Although potential donors are screened for STDs when they sign up, and at periodic intervals afterwards, there is no guarantee that the donor has not become infected in the period between his last test and donating the sperm. Stored sperm is frozen and tested over a six month period to ensure it is clean before use.

Is it a first?

Men Not Included is the only clinic in Britain known to offer women DIY babies. However, it is impossible to be sure that other companies are not providing similar services via the internet. DIY babies are not unknown in other countries. These babies are the first known cases in the UK.

What about the children?

Clinics which store sperm must keep records enabling sperm-donated children to trace their fathers. They can ask for the information on their 18th birthday. However, clinics dealing in fresh sperm donations are not obliged to report the insemination. As the law stands, DIY babies will therefore have no way of tracing their real fathers. Aside from the emotional implications, not knowing their father's medical history could lead to problems.