Dozens of British families are reportedly concerned that fertility clinics in northern Cyprus used incorrect sperm or egg donors, leading to children being conceived with mismatched genetic material. DNA tests on more than 30 children have allegedly revealed ancestry from Turkey and surrounding regions, contradicting the Western European heritage they were led to believe their donors possessed.
IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, involves fertilizing eggs with sperm in a laboratory before transferring the resulting embryo to a womb. Approximately one in every 32 births in the UK now results from this procedure. Concerns about potential errors at clinics in northern Cyprus first surfaced in March, when parents of at least seven children raised questions about their offspring's DNA. Of the 30 children involved in the ongoing investigations, 11 have undergone DNA testing, which reportedly showed ancestry different from the donors selected by their parents.
Half of these children were conceived at the Dogus IVF Centre in Nicosia, northern Cyprus. Many of the children whose DNA tests revealed unexpected ancestry were also reportedly conceived at this clinic. One mother, identified as Rachel by the BBC, recounted her suspicions dating back to 2012, when she underwent treatment at Dogus. She noted that her son, Jonah, looked different from the donor she had chosen, and claims clinic staff refused to provide proof that the correct sperm had been used. Following reports of other parents coming forward, Rachel and her now 13-year-old son took DNA tests, which confirmed Jonah was her biological son but that the selected sperm donor was not the father.
Dr. Firdevs Uguz Tip, Dr. Sevket Alpturk, and patient coordinator Julie Hodson are reportedly among Dogus staff involved in many of these cases. Dr. Uguz Tip is also linked to nine additional cases at two other clinics, including Miracle IVF, which she currently manages. Dr. Uguz Tip has denied any wrongdoing, stating she has been cleared of breaching any laws. Dr. Alpturk and Ms. Hodson had not yet responded to requests for comment. Dogus IVF Centre has also been contacted for comment.
Further complicating the situation, Cryos International, described as the world's largest sperm bank, reportedly blacklisted Dogus IVF Centre in 2016. Cryos informed the BBC that it had no record of ever supplying sperm to Dogus, despite the clinic advertising a relationship with the company. Cryos has also ceased working with Miracle IVF.
Northern Cyprus is a common destination for IVF treatments due to advertised lower costs and a wide selection of donors. Studies suggest that as many as one in three UK fertility patients seek treatment abroad, often to avoid high costs domestically. Rachel reported paying around £3,200 for her 2012 treatment, while current IVF costs in the UK start at approximately £5,000 and can be significantly higher.
However, northern Cyprus is internationally recognized only by Turkey, and European Union laws do not extend to the region, potentially leading to less stringent regulation of fertility clinics. The area's Ministry of Health acknowledged launching an investigation following the initial allegations in March but has not provided further updates. Laura Bridgens, founder of the charity Donor Conceived UK, called the reports "deeply troubling" and emphasized the right of donor-conceived individuals to know their origins. Experts consulted by the BBC suggested that the incidents may indicate "negligence" or "deception," with the British Fertility Society stating that the issue points to a "systemic problem which transcends one rogue doctor and one rogue clinic."