Netflix's shocking film tells the story of a man who duped hundreds of women into using him as a sperm donor. At the beginning of this three-part documentary we’re introduced to Natalie and Nicolette, who are lesbians. We also meet Vanessa, who says: “From a very young age, I always wanted to be a mom.” She just never found the right man. Then there are Joyce and John, a married couple. They wanted a child, but John, who had been married before, had had a vasectomy.
They found “Maarten”. With his big smile, good skin and great hair, he seemed ideal. He didn’t like sperm banks, he said, because they were all about making money. He wanted to donate because, you know, he was just a really great guy who loved helping people make their dreams come true. He told Nicolette she was the third person he had helped. He told Natalie that he wanted to be a donor a maximum of five times.
Why does this matter? Most countries limit the number of children a sperm donor may father, to reduce the risk of unwitting half-siblings meeting and having children together. In the Netherlands, for example, sperm donors are not allowed to have more than 25 children.