Full Breakdown
IVF donor mix-up scandal at Dogus IVF Centre in northern Cyprus
8/18/2026, 8:10:40 AM
Core event
BBC investigations have identified at least 30 children—most of them British—who were conceived at the Dogus IVF Centre in northern Cyprus using sperm or egg donors different from those selected by their parents. Parents allege that the clinic supplied donors other than the anonymous Danish donors ordered through Cryos International, the world’s largest sperm bank. DNA testing of 11 children shows genetic ancestry from Turkey or southern Europe, contradicting the expected Danish heritage. The majority of the affected births occurred between 2012 and 2024, with half of the children linked to Dogus alone.
Context of fertility tourism
Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey, operates outside EU regulations. Clinics such as Dogus attract British patients by offering lower-cost packages (about €4,000, roughly £3,200) and a wide selection of screened donors. The region’s loose oversight has allowed clinics to market relationships with reputable sperm banks while allegedly failing to deliver the advertised material.
Official responses
- The northern Cyprus Ministry of Health says it has opened an official investigation but has not provided further details.
- Cryos has suspended work with Dr Firdevs Uguz Tip and Miracle IVF pending the investigation’s outcome.
- Dr Firdevs Uguz Tip denies any wrongdoing and states that sperm procurement was not part of her duties. Clinic owner Dr Sevket Alpturk, who signs off all procedures, has not responded to BBC queries.
Advocacy criticism
Laura Bridgens, founder of the charity Donor Conceived UK, called the reports “deeply troubling” and argued that donor-conceived individuals have a fundamental right to know their origins. Parents such as Rachel, who discovered the mix-up after DNA testing, say the situation could have deprived their children of future contact with the correct donor and may have created undisclosed genetic siblings.
Verbatim quotes
- “It's a fundamental human right for a donor-conceived person to know the truth about their origins.” — Denmark. Rachel
- “I wanted any child of mine to have the choice of being able to contact the donor,” — Denmark. Rachel
- “Luckily Jonah was fascinated to find out about his heritage,” — Denmark. Rachel
