Screening couples for parenthood by donor insemination

Traditionally the selection of applicants for donor insemination (DI) has been governed by technical considerations relating to the fertility of the female and infertility of the male partner. In contrast, adoptive applicants have been carefully appraised in terms of their social and psychological fitness for parenthood. Despite easily recognisable differences between the two situations, we propose that DI candidates should be expected to satisfy minimal criteria regarding their marital relationship, health and social adjustment. The case for screening (as opposed to 'vetting', which implies a more searching examination) is argued with reference to a series of almost 200 couples referred from a hospital infertility clinic. In the absence of scientific validation the pursuit of more stringent criteria would be unwarranted, and in the event only a few couples were regarded as totally unsuitable on account of serious personal and marital problems. Others may have benefited from the opportunity to explore some of the delicate issues involved, although the value of independent counselling has yet to be established.