After nine years of marriage, and unsuccessful attempts to have children, Chukwudera B. Okoli and his wife, Blessing, separated. At the time, they were on a waiting list for donated eggs to pursue fertility treatment. When eggs became available the following year, Blessing Okoli sought her husband’s consent to begin the process of in vitro fertilization. He agreed in 2002, but only on the understanding that he would not be legally responsible for any children.