Consider the big picture

Several years ago, my doctor said I was infertile due to a medical condition. I was focused on my career then.

My best friend (male) since college provided support and encouragement.

My next long-term relationship was with a man who stated that he didn’t want kids and was fine with other fostering or adoption if he changed his mind.

He later broke up with me because he wanted biological children.

I was heartbroken and for years after, whenever I disclosed my medical condition, men lost interest in having a relationship with me.

Now, following an unrelated surgery, it was discovered that I’d been mis-diagnosed. The surgery remedied what had caused infertility. I’m 35, own my own home, am financially stable, have a great job with flexible hours, am ready to have a child, but still single.

My specialist has advised IVF (in vitro fertilization) as the best way for me to conceive, but requiring donor sperm.

I’d prefer to use a donation from someone I already know.

I wanted to ask my same best friend to be the sperm donor, but I’m unsure how to approach it.

He’s single and states that he doesn’t want kids. I realize he may change his mind and I don’t want to block any of his future relationships.

I highly respect him, but I want to be clear that I don’t want him to be a “father.” How do I handle this? – Seeking Sperm Donor

Set your priorities:

Do you most importantly want a baby conceived with someone whose background, personality and genetic history are all in your comfort zone?

Or, do you mostly want to raise a child on your own and have full control as the only known parent?

Before that decision, learn all that IVF entails, that it can take time, involving several cycles of tries (and possible disappointments) plus emotional and some physical effects from hormonal changes during the process.

When couples experience this together, the partner’s support is crucial. However, if your friend agrees to donate his sperm but not be involved as a father, it may be unfair to expect or ask anything more of him.

So be clear not only about what you want, but about what he can or cannot handle in the donor role.

FEEDBACK Regarding the couple who want to tell their friend’s adult children that their mother’s secretly awaiting a planned medically-assisted death (August 10):

Reader: “I cannot believe these people actually think it’s any of their business to meddle in another person’s most intimate health care decisions.

“They should not tell this woman’s children, and they should not be told anything about her health care anymore.

“I cannot imagine being so conceited to think that it was my mission in life to completely go against the wishes of a dying woman and blab her personal medical information. Her adult children will recover from the death. They can seek grief counseling.

“But if this woman’s children are told without permission, the couple will lose the friend before that assisted death.

“I hope the friend learns of the awful plan and cuts off all communication.”