Cyprus IVF Staff Accused of Misleading UK Parents on Donors
At least 30 children, mostly British, are feared conceived via wrong sperm or egg donors in northern Cyprus IVF clinics, while Cryos blacklisted the clinic in 2016.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- At least 30 children are suspected of being conceived with the wrong sperm or egg donors.
- Half of these cases originated from a single facility named Dogus IVF Centre.
- Cryos International, the world's largest sperm bank, blacklisted Dogus back in 2016.
- DNA tests from 11 children show genetic ancestry linked to Turkey and surrounding areas.
An ongoing investigation reveals that at least 30 children, predominantly from British families, are feared to have been conceived through IVF treatments in northern Cyprus utilizing incorrect sperm or egg donors. Parents state they meticulously chose anonymous donors based on detailed medical histories, appearances, personalities, and education levels, only to discover later that their requested specifications may have been completely ignored during fertility procedures.
This growing scandal expands upon initial findings from earlier this year by the BBC, which originally uncovered seven affected cases. Half of the 30 total children were born following procedures at the Dogus IVF Centre. Three specific staff members—Dr. Firdevs Uguz Tip, Dr. Sevket Alpturk, and patient coordinator Julie Hodson—managed the care for many of these patients. While Dr. Firdevs denies any wrongdoing, Alpturk and Hodson have not responded to inquiries.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Northern Cyprus operates as a territory where European Union laws do not apply and is solely recognized legally by Turkey, resulting in loosely regulated fertility clinics that market low prices, high success rates, and extensive donor portfolios. It remains a major destination for British citizens pursuing fertility treatments abroad. Although the local Ministry of Health launched an official inquiry into the allegations, repeated requests for further updates have gone unanswered.
Further compounding the suspicions, commercial DNA testing performed by 11 of the 30 children indicates they inherited genetic ancestry from Turkey or neighboring regions, directly contradicting the Western European backgrounds of the donors selected by their parents. The majority of these children were conceived via IVF at the Dogus clinic between 2012 and 2024, leaving families grappling with unanswered questions regarding their children's true biological origins and medical backgrounds.
"She selected the clinic due to a helpful coordinator and a promised package featuring top-tier international donor sperm."
Testimony from an affected mother
Rachel, a mother who traveled to Dogus in 2012, shared her long-standing doubts after paying roughly 4,000 euros for a treatment package that supposedly included donor sperm from Denmark's Cryos International, coordinated by Julie Hodson and Dr. Firdevs. Thirteen years later, after noticing physical traits that did not match the donor profile, DNA testing alongside her son Jonah confirmed that while Rachel is his biological mother, the designated Danish sperm donor was never actually used.
Analytical Context: The vulnerabilities exposed in northern Cyprus highlight the inherent risks within international medical tourism, particularly where regulatory oversight is lax and verification mechanisms are missing. Cryos International stated it has no record of ever delivering sperm to the Dogus clinic, directly undermining years of marketing claims made by the facility. This discrepancy underscores the critical need for absolute transparency and traceability in global fertility treatments.
Source: BBC Health
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