Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

More Women Not Waiting For Mr. Right
CBS2CHICAGO ^ | 18 May 2006 | CBS2CHICAGO

Posted on 05/21/2006 11:55:33 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist

(CBS) CHICAGO It's a trend that some fear may have long-term consequences. More unmarried women over the age of 25 are not waiting for Mr. Right.

As CBS 2's Alita Guillen reports, these ladies are having children on their own.

The fantasy father at their fingertips is a sperm donor with all the right stuff.

Katherine Gehl and April Lashbrook had successful careers and dated, but they didn't have husbands. They heard their biological clocks ticking loudly.

"It was like a time bomb," April said.

"I need to go and have a baby and be a mother, and so I did," Katherine said.

Women used to depend on chemistry in the bedroom to conceive a child. Now, more and more women are turning to the lab and depending more on science than sex.

This twist on the mating game begins at a sperm bank, where donors can earn up to $900 a month.

"These guys are college students. This is a form of income," said California Cryobank Medical Director Dr. Cappy Rothman.

The sperm undergoes testing for diseases, genetic defects and blood type.

"Donor sperm, in many ways, is guaranteed good sperm," said Dr. Lauren Streicher, a gynecologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

When April chose her donor in 2003, she got a long profile including a medical history and even written answers to questions.

"I knew immediately that was who I was going to choose," she said.

Now, many banks offer much more, including childhood photos and the donors' voices on CD.

Once chosen, the sperm remains frozen and stored until needed. Then it can be shipped anywhere.

While women can inseminate themselves at home, both April and Katherine used fertility specialists.

Many of these donors have already proven their fertility.

"It's an excellent way of getting pregnant because you usually have men who have confirmed pregnancy," said Dr. Brian Kaplan, a fertility specialist with Fertility Clinics of Illinois.

"We are creating a real potential disaster here," said Elizabeth Marquardt with New York City's Affiliate Scholar Institute for American Values.

Some critics are concerned that as this practice becomes more popular, and that with an unknown number of children from the same donor, that two of them might unknowingly hook up.

"In the future, we will have to have a DNA test with anyone we want to have sex with just to make sure we're not related to them," Marquardt said.

Many sperm banks say they try to limit pregnancies based on geographic area to reduce that risk. However, in a transient society, it may be hard to do.

Critics also worry how this might change the definition of family.

"As a society, we're saying fathers don't matter," Marquardt said.

Thirteen-year-old Liz Herzog, whose father is donor number 1002 from Virginia's Fairfax Cryobank, says she's happy with her life.

"I can't even say that once in a while I wish I had a father, because I don't," she said.

Through the Donor Sibling Registry Web site, she has discovered at least 10 half-sibling and has met seven, including Callie from Pennsylvania.

Liz's mother, Diana, thinks these newly forged relationships will last a lifetime.

"You can only hope that your child will be well-adjusted and happy enough when they grow up that they won't feel that they're missing too much," Diana Herzog said.

April's daughter, Julia, is now almost three years old.

"When she was born, it was just amazing," April said.

Katherine's daughter, Alexandra, is eight months old.

Both are enjoying every moment motherhood has to offer.

"It is so much greater than I had any idea," Katherine said.

April, Julia's mom, knows of six half-siblings so far.

All of the single moms we spoke with think the possibility of meeting and dating a half-sibling is very remote because they are very open or plan to be open with their children.

It is interesting to note that back when sperm banks first opened in the 1970s, it was all married couples seeking sperm donors. Doctors say those couples were more likely to keep it secret.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: birthrate; bravenewworld; children; freeriders; genderwars; harpyreproduction; ivf; marriage; moralabsolutes; paternity; spermbank; swirlingdowndrain
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 601-617 next last
To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Me, me, me, I want, I want, I want, nice example mom. Whatever happened to patience is a virtue. Or, did it ever occur to these women that the reason they didn't have men in their lives to father their own children is because the men didn't think they were a suitable for motherhood? If only the clinics could screen the potential mother...


21 posted on 05/21/2006 12:13:07 PM PDT by WV Mountain Mama (In West Virginia, even the road less traveled is paved, courtesy of Byrd.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HitmanLV
I categorically don't date single/divorced/widowed moms. Kids are a bad scene for a bachelor about town, and I have no interest in raising some other guy's children.

Unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky. I dated a woman who was divorced with a kid for several years and it clearly didn't work out. The woman (rightly so) will always put the child first, period.

22 posted on 05/21/2006 12:13:10 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Conservatism is moderate, it is the center, it is the middle of the road)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: No Blue States

She could at least have named her "Liz 1002".


23 posted on 05/21/2006 12:14:11 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: No Blue States

That's what they say about married women who choose to remain childless... we women just can't seem to win.


24 posted on 05/21/2006 12:14:14 PM PDT by marajade (Yes, I'm a SW freak!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

lol!


We have a 3rd due in 6 weeks. (girl)

I absolutely know beyond a shadow of a doubt that even with all my faults my daughters will be far better off having had me in their lives.

Their mother lets them slide on just about anything.


25 posted on 05/21/2006 12:15:33 PM PDT by No Blue States
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Sorry to ping you to this miserable article. Swirling down the drain for sure.

:-(


26 posted on 05/21/2006 12:15:40 PM PDT by little jeremiah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

"It was time to accessorize and i was sooo tired of new shoes, so I got a baby. I picked out the eye and hair color to match my drapes... did it as quickly as possible to avoid having to interrupt my career as a gen-u-wine number in an office cubicle. My baby gets me so much attention, and I feel so special!"

I would say the probability of these bimbos' kids turning out screwed up is just about unity.

"I couldn't form an enduring attachment to another human adult, and my condo association doesn't allow pets, so I had a baby."

And hey, if you change the carpets and the baby's eyes don't match, the muslims of Pakistan are always buying.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F


27 posted on 05/21/2006 12:16:27 PM PDT by Criminal Number 18F
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: No Blue States
(in a few years...)

Your dad was #1002?
MY dad was #1002!

Oh my god... you're my half sister!

Eeeeewwwwwwwwwww.

28 posted on 05/21/2006 12:16:44 PM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
With choice comes options. There's no reason to seriously date a woman with a lot of baggage (especially baggage with names) when there are millions of young, attractive women with less baggage. Just makes sense. Guys who want to be open to that are free to date these women, but it's not for me.

Better them than me.
29 posted on 05/21/2006 12:16:48 PM PDT by HitmanLV ("5 Minute Penalty for #40, Ann Theresa Calvello!" - RIP 1929-2006)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

So rather than become Miss Right, these wymyn are not waiting for Mister Right and are settling for Mister Right Now (for ten minutes)?


30 posted on 05/21/2006 12:16:50 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

"The woman (rightly so) will always put the child first, period."

I learned that the hard way too, the 1st time around.
The youger kids will also resent you more than likely for not being their original dad.
But when the chips are down you are an outsider.


31 posted on 05/21/2006 12:17:57 PM PDT by No Blue States
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

"I need to go and have a baby and be a mother, and so I did,"

I,I,I. It's the 'me' generation.


32 posted on 05/21/2006 12:17:58 PM PDT by imskylark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WV Mountain Mama
If only the clinics could screen the potential mother...

They do. They screen to see if the check clears or the credit card is good. Other than that, one ovary looks just like another to them.

33 posted on 05/21/2006 12:18:25 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (I wish a political party would come along that thinks like I do.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: No Blue States
Sick, selfish women..thinking only of their own wants. This practice is demented.

The more they think they are "liberated", the more they are tied to their base animal instincts. Do you think they realize that they are worse than dogs in an alley?

34 posted on 05/21/2006 12:18:40 PM PDT by Dr.Syn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: No Blue States
Mow a lawn you lazy POS.

Well, considering that the average college student is going to be, er, producing samples regularly, he might as well collect the stuff and get these losers to pay him for it.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

35 posted on 05/21/2006 12:18:59 PM PDT by Criminal Number 18F
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: tet68
She could at least have named her "Liz 1002".

That's "Liz Herzog-1002," ya male-chauvanist. ;^)

36 posted on 05/21/2006 12:19:24 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (When Al Franken had his bris, they threw away the baby and saved the foreskin.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: All

Ironically, these women will have daughters and sons who long for fathers, and since Mom will likely be busy with her career, guess what happens to the kids?

This is JUST great, ain't it?


37 posted on 05/21/2006 12:19:24 PM PDT by David Allen (the presumption of innocence - what a concept!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Read May 2006 Chronicles: Rejecting Marriage by Christopher J. Check The elephant in the room

In it he gives anecdotes and statistics about the abuse of children without married parents. I met an enlightened DC area woman who followed the advice of this article. The first time I met her she was smacking her cat because it meowed.

38 posted on 05/21/2006 12:19:41 PM PDT by palmer (Money problems do not come from a lack of money, but from living an excessive, unrealistic lifestyle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
"As a society, we're saying fathers don't matter," Marquardt said.

The chief wife is mainly for the purpose of demonstrating the ability to absorb vast quantities of financial damage.

39 posted on 05/21/2006 12:20:17 PM PDT by RightWhale (Off touch and out of base)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Dear Old
40 posted on 05/21/2006 12:20:29 PM PDT by heights
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 601-617 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson