Northern Cyprus | 22 Aug 2026
Turkish Cypriot health authorities have asked fertility patients with donor-related concerns to come forward after an investigation raised fears that at least 30 children, most of them British, may have been conceived using sperm or eggs from donors other than those selected by their parents.
The appeal marks the latest development in the Northern Cyprus IVF donor investigation, which began after families reported discrepancies between donor profiles provided by clinics and genetic ancestry indicated by commercial DNA tests.
Northern Cyprus IVF Donor Investigation Widens
The investigation initially covered seven children but expanded after more families reported similar experiences. Fifteen of the 30 cases have been linked to treatment at the now-closed Dogus IVF Centre.
Parents said they selected anonymous donors using information about medical history, appearance, education, personality and interests. They now question whether the requested genetic material was used during treatment.
Commercial DNA tests have been conducted involving 11 of the children. The reported results indicated ancestry connected to Turkey or neighbouring regions in cases where parents said they had selected Western European donors, strengthening concerns about possible donor substitutions.
Laura Bridgens, founder of Donor Conceived UK, said the allegations raised serious questions about children’s access to accurate information about their biological and medical backgrounds.
“These reports are deeply concerning. It is a fundamental human right of a person conceived by a donor to know the truth about their origins.”
— Laura Bridgens, founder of Donor Conceived UK
Danish Donor Case Raises Traceability Questions
One mother, identified as Rachel, underwent treatment at Dogus in 2012 after selecting an anonymous Danish sperm donor listed by Cryos International under the pseudonym “Ditto”.
Rachel said the treatment package cost approximately €4,000 and that clinic coordinators told her sperm from the selected donor would be ordered. She later became concerned after failing to receive documentation confirming its use.
DNA testing conducted years later indicated that Rachel was the biological mother of her 13-year-old son, Jonah, but that the selected Danish donor was not his biological father. The results instead indicated Turkish and southern European ancestry.
Cryos International subsequently told investigators that it had no record of supplying sperm to Dogus. The company said it had blacklisted the clinic in 2016 following an earlier case involving a suspected failure to order sperm selected by a patient.
Clinic Rejects Allegations and Disputes Timeline
Dr Firdevs Uğuz Tip, who treated several patients at Dogus and later became the responsible physician at Miracle IVF Centre, has denied misleading patients or committing wrongdoing.
Miracle IVF described the reporting concerning the centre and Dr Tip as “incomplete, one-sided and misleading”. It said no patient-specific records or authorised documentation had been presented to establish personal or institutional responsibility.
The centre also stressed that Dogus and Miracle IVF are separate legal entities. It said Dr Tip worked at Dogus as an obstetrician and gynaecologist between 2009 and 2015, while Miracle IVF was licensed and began operating on 18 April 2019.
Miracle IVF said an inspection of the patient files examined by Turkish Cypriot health authorities found no deficiency or breach of legislation. It added that no final official decision had established wrongdoing by the centre or Dr Tip in relation to activities conducted after Miracle opened.
Dr Sevket Alpturk, identified as Dogus’s owner and responsible director, and former patient coordinator Julie Hodson did not respond to questions reported by the BBC. No competent authority has issued a final finding assigning responsibility for the alleged donor discrepancies.
Health Authorities Invite Families to Submit Evidence
Turkish Cypriot health authorities said their investigation remained under way and invited local and international patients to contact them if they suspected that their chosen donor was not used or if DNA results conflicted with information supplied by a clinic.
Officials said submissions would be handled under confidentiality and personal-data rules. The investigation is expected to examine donor traceability, patient consent, medical records and whether other families may have been affected.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its Cyprus travel advice on 14 August 2026, warning that fertility treatment in the north carries risks because clinics are not regulated in the same way as those in Britain.
Northern Cyprus is recognised as an independent state only by Turkey, and European Union law does not apply there. The UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has no powers over overseas clinics and advises patients to examine local regulation, donor screening, record-keeping and legal remedies before travelling for treatment.
