Fertile response to appeal for donors (From Daily Echo)

Fertile response to appeal for sperm donors in Hampshire

7:10am Tuesday 27th January 2009 in News By Clare Kennedy, Health Reporter

THIRTY men have now expressed interest in becoming sperm donors following an appeal in the Daily Echo.

They have all contacted The Princess Anne’s Hospital fertility unit to help infertile couples have a child of their own.

Eight of those men are already booked in to undergo tests to see whether they are suitable donors and one man has already started the process.

The fertility unit’s appeal earlier this month comes after a drop in the number of men donating sperm following a change in the law four years ago that removed donors’ anonymity.

Before the law change there were typically around 20 sperm donors who could choose to make up to ten donations but now there are only three.

Dr Kathryn Bull, an andrologist at the fertility unit said she was delighted with the response.

“It has really worked a treat,”

she said.

“The response has been great, we’ve had over 30 enquiries.”

Dr Bull added: “One of our existing donors has now made the maximum ten donations so we are now down to three.

“It is really encouraging that we have got this interest but we can never have too many men as some d o n o r s might not want to make up to ten donations.”

P o t e n t i a l donors have no legal responsibility for any children that result from their sperm – their name does not even appear on the child’s birth certificate and they have no legal requirements to pay any maintenance.

Although since April 2005 children have been able to find out the identity of the donor once they reach the age of 18, any contact must be made initially via the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the process is tightly legislated.

Any sperm donor can ask how many children have been born from their donations and whether they are male or female, although no identifying details are given.

● The SFU would like to hear from any men aged between 18 and 45. Expenses are paid. Call 023 8079 6048 or e-mail fertility@suht.swest.nhs.uk