my husband is a carrier for 1 genetic mutation, so we decided to go with a donor that had been screened for mutation as well, which was the 104 screening one.

I would just go with the one you like best and would not bother with further testing.

I would get both tested. We were seeking donors and glad had DH tested for 104 (and donor was tested for 104) because 1 of the donors we happened to like carried same recessive mutation as DH. What are the chances?? Now granted the child if all worked out would only have 25% chance of getting the disease, but still, we went with a different donor.

Anonymous wrote:Goodness, guys. I'm not sure why we are so harsh with each other on this board sometimes. I'm choosing between those donors. Not getting down on them for having some stuff in their family history. In fact, I like that they reported these things. I think the people with completely clean family histories probably just don't know theirs or are being untruthful.

Anyway, if anyone else has made a donor decision and has helpful insight, I would appreciate the input and guidance at this difficult time.

Harsh? This is one of the nicest of the boards trust me and nothing anyone said was critical. you will need thicker skin if you graduate to the expecting and Parent boards.

To me both donor profiles are similar... 2 vs 3 grandparents with cancer. My donor had the standard 14 genetic testing. I would go with the one you like better...

With those profiles, I would just pick the one you like the best. Neither sounds like there are any red flags. If your sperm donor doesn't come from a high risk (i.e. Jewish) group, I wouldn't bother getting more testing on the sperm donor.

I have been through something like this at SG. I would be looking at whether there is a history of a specific type of cancer. For example, if they all have breast or ovarian or prostate or something. That would worry me much more than if they had different--such as one with lung (possibly behavioral cancer related to lifestyle) and one with something else, if you see what I mean. I would strongly prefer the 104 disease screen as I like to have more information rather than less.
I guess if it was me I'd see if you can delay, use the 104-screened donor and get the sperm donor to test for additional diseases because it is that important to know. health is #1 to me with a donor, trumping anything else. Perfection not needed but information is.

Many people get cancer when they are old. I would not worry about that so much as mental health and other issues, including iq. But, there are never guarantees.

Goodness, guys. I'm not sure why we are so harsh with each other on this board sometimes. I'm choosing between those donors. Not getting down on them for having some stuff in their family history. In fact, I like that they reported these things. I think the people with completely clean family histories probably just don't know theirs or are being untruthful.

Anyway, if anyone else has made a donor decision and has helpful insight, I would appreciate the input and guidance at this difficult time.

Everyone dies from something eventually. Are you hoping to find someone whose grandparents are immortal?

Mine had screening for 14 (which was the old standard; now SGF screens for 104). Honestly, I'm fine with 14. There's probably some pretty rare stuff included in the 104. As to family hiatory, is yours completely clean? No? Then don't expect your donor''s to be. It's also worth remembering that there are medical advances everyday, so even if there's a family history of cancer that doesn't mean your kid will get it or that there won't be a cure for it.

Huh

I either need to pick a donor who is not a carrier for anything, or it will delay things and cost another $1000-2000 because I am using a sperm donor, and the clinic would have to contact him to get additional testing done. One of the donors I'm looking at has been screened for 104 genetic diseases and the other has been screened for 14. (To further complicate things, the 104 donor has a family history that includes 3 grandparents with cancer. The 14 donor has a "cleaner" family history but still has 2 grandparents with cancer when they were old.) How important would be it be to you for the donor to be screened for 104 genetic diseases?