Nine documentaries about assisted reproduction
Nine documentaries about assisted reproduction
Nine recent documentaries about different aspects of assisted reproduction, followed by the June roundup of studies, good reads and events.
Documentaries
The story of Donald Cline, a fertility doctor in Indiana who used his own sperm to covertly inseminate his patients, and the offspring who want justice. 2022. (Currently on Netflix.)
A three-part documentary made by a donor-conceived woman about about her two lesbian moms, the gay donor who sued for parental rights and the fight for equality for gay families. 2021. (Currently on HBO.)
Stories We Tell: The Fertility Secret
Five women of colour share their experiences with infertility. 2021. (Available on MSNBC.)
A documentary about egg freezing, based on research by Lucy van de Wiel. 2021. (Currently free on YouTube; search "Freezing Fertility.")
China's LGBTQAI+ Couples Completing Their Families Using Surrogacy
What it's like to be a same-sex male couple in China with a child through surrogacy. 2021. (Available on SBS On Demand in Australia, and on YouTube elsewhere.)
A documentary about what it's like for Canadians seeking fertility treatment. 2021. (Available at select showings.)
Dolly: The Sheep That Changed the World
The story behind the story of the first cloned sheep. 2021. (Currently free through BBC website to people in the UK — I wish I could watch it from here.)
A donor-conceived filmmaker with possibly 600 half-siblings takes a hard look at the hidden costs of sperm donor anonymity. 2020. (Currently streaming on CBC Gem.)
The story of Quincy Fortier, a fertility doctor in Nevada, who used his own sperm to covertly inseminate his patients. 2020. (Currently on HBO)
Studies
Ongoing - University of Leicester - Children's Voices in Surrogacy Law
Ongoing - University of Bristol - Queer(ing) Birth Registration
Ongoing - University of Ottawa - Surrogacy laws in Canada: Exploring Intended Parents' Experiences and Perspectives
Ongoing - University of Adelaide - Men's psychosocial needs when diagnosed with male infertility
Ongoing - ConnecteDNA, University of Manchester - One-on-one interviews with donors, parents and donor-conceived adults
Ongoing - University of Birmingham - Survey of LGBTQ+ parents
Ongoing - anonymous online survey Fathers and Partners - Mental Health and Emotional Well Being During the Perinatal Period
Good reads
Kudrat Wadhwa. "Doctor Donor Fertility Fraud." The Verge. 14 Jun 2022.
Vittoria Elliott. "Fertility and Period Apps Can Be Weaponized in a Post-Roe World." Wired. 07 Jun 2022.
Ginny Hogan. "I’d Like to Formally Request an Extension for My Fertility." New York Magazine. 07 Jun 2022.
Carey Goldberg. "The Pandora's Box of Embryo Testing is Officially Open." Bloomberg. 26 May 2022.
"I Lost My Son To A Rare Genetic Disease. I Saw IVF As A Way To Heal." Refinery29. 11 Feb 2022.
Plus a recent piece from me:
Alison Motluk. "This Father’s Day, spare a thought for the people touched by anonymous sperm donation." The Globe and Mail. 18 Jun 2022.
Events
23 Jun - British Fertility Society - Male Fertility Study Day
30 Jun - 01 Jul - British Menopause Society annual scientific conference - Menopause care: Maintaining the momentum
3-6 Jul - European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology - ESHRE annual meeting
Note: My original list of eight has grown to nine, with the addition of “World’s Biggest Family,” which I neglected to include despite having interviewed the filmmaker for HeyReprotech! I regret the oversight!