When rapper and entertainer Da Brat and her wife Judy decided to grow their family, their journey was marked by several challenges. The path to bringing their now 16-month-old son, True Legend, was documented on the couple’s reality show. Initially criticized for selecting a white sperm donor, they explained their decision by highlighting the lack of available Black donors. A 2023 study conducted by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine found that only 3% of donors at 14 of the country’s largest sperm banks are Black. The Harris-Duparts’ experience illustrated the widespread difficulties Black families face when seeking donors who share their cultural background.
A new study led by Dr. Courtney Marsh, a professor and OBGYN at the University of Kansas Medical Center, aims to explore why Black sperm donors remain underrepresented. Though research is still underway, preliminary focus groups and interviews reveal several themes, including systemic mistrust of medical institutions, cultural stigmas around donation, and limited, targeted outreach by fertility clinics.
These challenges in donor representation have become increasingly pressing as fertility trends evolve. More women in the United States are waiting later in life to have children. In 2022, birth rates for women aged 35 to 39 increased by 3%, and rates for women aged 40 to 44 rose by 5%, reflecting a steady trend toward later motherhood. Advancements in fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), have made parenthood more accessible for older women but highlight persistent racial and socioeconomic disparities in pursuing their dreams of parenthood.
Once the research is complete, Marsh and her team plan to develop strategies for addressing this donor gap. Their work will include helping sperm banks create targeted outreach programs in Black communities and collaborating with focus group participants to identify effective solutions.
SOURCES
https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive/sperm-donor-study.html
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db477.htm#section_2