Question of the Month: My husband and I are using donor sperm for artificial insemination. There was a report from a woman who used this donor sperm that her baby had Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, but no other family history was noted. I have Spina Bifida Occulta. What would be the risk of passing this down to my child? If I use this donor, am I doubling this risk? I just started taking folic acid and hopefully it will lessen the risk. 

It is unlikely that the donor sperm was the cause of the offspring with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, particularly since the donor has no personal or family history of spina bifida. There are many possibly reasons for that pregnancy to have resulted in a neural tube defect, including the known risks of maternal obesity, diabetes, and certain anti-seizure medication. Whether any of these risks were part of that preganacy is not mentioned and probably not known from the profile.

It is good that you are taking folate supplements in preparation for your planned pregnancy. Because you have a medical history of spina bifida occulta, it is best that you take a higher dose of folate, 4mg instead of 0.4mg, beginning at least 1 month before starting your insemination program and through the first trimester of your pregnancy.

Best wishes for your pregnancy. For more information on folic acid, please visit: http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.liKWL7PLLrF/b.2700277/k.2112/Folic_Acid.htm.