A 72-year-old British man is to donate his sperm to his daughter-in-law, allowing her to become a mother and produce a 'grandchild'.
The unnamed man is donating his sperm because his son and daughter-in-law's attempts at IVF treatment failed due to the poor quality of the husband's sperm.
A spokeswoman for Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority said that it is not uncommon for someone in the family to donate, although normally the age limit for sperm donors is 45.
She said in this case, the age of the donor is unusual.
Dr Peter Bowen-Simkins, of London Women's Clinic, where the couple is having treatment, said the couple and the grandparents-to-be had undergone counselling to prepare them for the arrival of a child produced in such an unusual way.
Dr Bowen-Simkins said he had never come across a case like this before, but keeping the genetic identity of the child similar to their own was a huge factor in this situation.
The husband does not have a brother that is why he chose his own father to assist.
Experts said they had no ethical problems with the man donating his sperm, but did have medical concerns about the health of the child.
Dr Alan Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology at Sheffield University, said the man's age could reduce the chances of the donation working.
He said it could increase the chances of the woman having a miscarriage and also increase the likelihood that the child produced inherits a genetic condition, such as autism, Down's Syndrome or dwarfism.
