F&S Reports (Dec 2023)

Management considerations for clinically relevant findings on expanded carrier screening in a sperm donor applicant population

  • Lauren Isley, M.S., C.G.C.,
  • Pamela Callum, M.S., C.G.C.,
  • Jennifer Luque, M.S., C.G.C.,
  • Jessica Park, M.S., C.G.C.,
  • Kara Baldwin, M.S., C.G.C.

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 4
pp. 384 – 389

Abstract

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Objective: To describe the clinical experience of managing expanded carrier screening (ECS) results in sperm donor applicants at a sperm bank in the United States, including considerations around suitability determination and appropriate education of prospective donors and recipients. Design: A retrospective review of donor genetic screening records from July 2017 to December 2021. Setting: A U.S.-based sperm bank. Patients: Donor applicants at a sperm bank. Intervention: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: To examine the rate of potentially significant health risks on the basis of ECS results to inform donor management and donor/recipient counseling considerations. Results: Nearly 2% of donor applicants were identified as having potentially significant health risks on the basis of their ECS results, and most individuals had no clinical manifestations related to these findings. Conclusion: There are unique challenges related to ECS in third-party reproduction for gamete providers, recipients, and their healthcare providers. A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach is necessary to help mitigate risks to donor offspring and maximize patient experience. Informed consent and access to a trained genetics professional are paramount when facilitating ECS on donor applicants and disseminating results to recipients.

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