Serial sperm donor Ari Nagel, an American who has fathered 33 children, with 10 more on the way, has been banned from donating his sperm in Israel, where he first fathered a child via artificial insemination.
Nagel told The Associated Press Monday that he recently learned that the Israeli Health Ministry had banned the use of his sperm.
Nagel, nicknamed "The Sperminator" by some media outlets, is well-known for his frequent donations.
Israel's Health Ministry cited a law stipulating that a woman can only use anonymous sperm donors, and that there is a legal limit to the number of donations any one donor can make.
The ministry indicated that several women had approached clinics asking for donations from Nagel, and that this "goes against the laws and regulations on the issue."
Nagel said he never received any direct communication from the ministry, but after attempting to donate at a clinic in Israel in December, he was told that he could be arrested if he did not stop donating. He has flown to Israel three times in the past year to donate.
"The Ministry of Health is saying, how can you be a father to all these children? Well, you know, I'm not a father to all these children," Nagel said. "Obviously I can't be a full-time dad to all of them."
Nagel says he often meets up with some of his biological children and their parents for group playdates, and emphasizes how important it is that they know their biological siblings.
Nagel says his Jewish Orthodox family is ashamed of what he does and would prefer that he "settle down and have a traditional marriage."
But Nagel says it is "impossible" to be in a relationship while trying to help other women conceive, and that he does not plan to stop any time soon.
"My heart does tell me to continue. I know and feel that I'm doing the right thing. If what I was doing was wrong, it wouldn't feel so right," Nagel said.
