Major sperm donor says he fathered 200 children in four countries

A Dutch sperm donor says 199 children are linked to his donations across four European countries, according to a letter he sent to families who received them.

The 43-year-old man, from Groningen in the northern Netherlands, said 172 children were born in the Netherlands, 11 in Belgium, 15 in Germany and one in another European country. He also said another woman is still pregnant, although he has stopped donating sperm.

The man was being investigated in Belgium and the Netherlands after contributing to the births of more than 100 children. In his letter, he said he had initially believed he was doing the right thing and helping people. “I believed I was doing the right thing and helping people; the gratitude and seeing that intense happiness were my only motivation,” he wrote.

He added: “Now I know I have deeply disappointed them,” and said he should have counted his donations much earlier, including for his own sake.

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I believed I was doing the right thing and helping people; the gratitude and seeing that intense happiness were my only motivation. Now I know I have deeply disappointed them.