Man, 72, donates sperm to father his own grandchild

A 72-year-old man is to donate sperm to attempt to help his daughter-in-law to conceive his grandchild.

A fertility clinic has agreed to allow the man to donate to his son and daughter-in-law, the husband being infertile. If the procedure at the London Women’s Clinic succeeds, the donor will be the child’s genetic father, as well as being its grandfather in legal terms.

The case has caused controversy among fertility specialists, not because of the family relationships but because, as men age, their sperm accumulates genetic damage, raising the risk of health problems. Raised paternal age is a risk factor for autism, schizophrenia, achondroplasia (dwarfism), Down’s syndrome, and congenital defects.

The national sperm donation programme accepts only men aged under 45. Allan Pacey, of the British Fertility Society, said: “I am sure the couple will have been apprised of the risks, but in my view this is unwise. There is a very real possibility that this will not work, and the chances of miscarriage are also raised. The chances of a genetic defect or illness become greater too. You could say that if everybody is happy they should go ahead, but God forbid if there if there’s a child born with a problem. It would be delicate to explain to that child that it might be the result of its grandfather’s 72-year-old sperm.”