Couple claims IVF clinic used wrong man’s sperm after giving baby girl DNA test and finding husband has ‘zero percent probability’ of being the father

A Florida couple claims a fertility clinic used another man’s sperm during IVF – leaving the devastated husband with a ‘zero percent probability’ of being the biological father of the baby girl.

Natalie and Joshua Strong say they spent years enduring injections, hormones, medication and the heartbreak of a failed IVF attempt before finally welcoming their long-awaited daughter in 2025.

But their joy was shattered within a day of her birth when routine blood work revealed that Joshua was not the baby’s biological father. 

The couple allege Brown Fertility in Jacksonville used sperm belonging to an unidentified man to create the embryo that became their daughter – an accusation the clinic has denied, reports CNN.

The couple then took a DNA test which confirmed the crushing news.

‘I just don’t understand how one little mistake like that could affect our whole lives forever,’ Natalie told CBS News.

She stressed that nothing about the discovery changed how she felt about her newborn daughter.

‘I was so happy I had her and I love her more than anything in the world,’ Natalie said. ‘But to hear that right after you have your baby is devastating.’

The couple is now suing Brown Fertility and its lead physician, Dr. Samuel Brown, as they seek answers about the identity of their daughter’s biological father – and what happened to Joshua’s sperm.

They also fear the mystery may extend beyond the baby girl they now have.

The Strongs have three remaining embryos and say they have no idea whose sperm was used to create them.

Even more troubling for Joshua is another unanswered question as to whether his own sperm could have mistakenly been used for somebody else’s IVF treatment.

‘We have no idea if they still have it, if they’ve used it elsewhere,’ Joshua told CNN. ‘If there are other potential children somewhere, we have no idea.’

The nightmare began after what should have been one of the happiest moments of the couple’s lives.

Natalie and Joshua began their IVF journey in 2023, determined to have a biological child together. But their first attempt failed.

Natalie endured more injections, hormones and medication before another round finally worked.

‘We finally got our beautiful baby girl, and it was the best day of my life,’ she said.

But after their daughter was born, the couple were told her blood type was B positive, according to their lawsuit.

The Strongs both have negative blood types and the filing alleges the result was incompatible with Joshua being the biological father.

Joshua said he immediately realized something was wrong.

‘Within a day they told us her blood type and I pretty much knew immediately that something was messed up at that point,’ he said.

For Natalie, who had only just given birth, the revelation transformed a moment of euphoria into one of dread.

‘I was worried, confused,’ she recalled. ‘I didn’t know how that would be possible with all the stuff we’ve been through for the last few years.’

Joshua has also spoken of his overwhelming and conflicting emotions.

‘Obviously, I love her tremendously. And I’m so happy that we have her,’ he said.

But he described the situation as ‘a struggle’ involving emotions that are difficult even to put into words.

At a press conference, Joshua became visibly upset as he discussed the ordeal.

‘I think about it every day,’ he said. ‘It’s just overwhelming at times.’

The Strongs say they eventually intend to explain what happened to their daughter when she is old enough to understand.

Natalie said they believe questions about genetics, medical history and her appearance could make keeping the circumstances of her conception from her unrealistic.

‘We do eventually want to tell her when she’s old enough to understand,’ she said, adding that she hopes her daughter knows ‘that her parents are enough for her.’

The couple says identifying the biological father is important primarily because their daughter deserves to know her genetic and medical history.

The couple’s attorney, Rob Marcereau, said the lawsuit came only after almost a year of attempts to obtain answers from Brown Fertility.

‘We’ve gotten nothing,’ Marcereau said noting how the litigation is intended to determine ‘what happened, whose sperm was used, what happened to Joshua’s sperm’ and how such an alleged error could have occurred.

Brown Fertility has denied the Strongs’ claim with a spokesperson saying the clinic would not comment further while the case is being litigated.

The Strongs’ case also means their plans to grow their family are on hold.

They still have three embryos at Brown Fertility, but their attorneys say arrangements are being made to move them.

‘We have no idea whose sperm was used on the remaining three embryos,’ Joshua said. ‘We don’t have any clue.’

‘I am getting older and I don’t know how much longer I can process, you know, go through the process of that again,’ Natalie added.

For now, she said, the couple is concentrating on the little girl they spent years desperately trying to have.

‘We’re really happy with our daughter we have now,’ Natalie said. ‘We love her to death and we couldn’t imagine not having her in our lives.’

‘I have an interest in finding out what our baby’s genetic history is for her health reasons,’ Natalie said. ‘But further than that, no.’

Marcereau claimed fertility mistakes are more common than many Americans realize and alleged that inadequate staffing, training and quality controls can contribute to errors at some clinics. 

Another attorney for the couple described fertility medicine in the US as the ‘Wild, Wild West of medicine,’ arguing that the industry lacks the kind of overarching regulation seen in some other countries.

Natalie said the family’s goal goes beyond obtaining answers for themselves and wants to make sure another couple does not endure the same experience.

‘I just hope they do better for the next couples they take care of,’ she said. ‘We don’t want it to happen to another family. It’s devastating.’