Sperm donation campaign
20 Mar 2007
Males (18-45) without genetic or health problems needed to overcome donor shortage
The sad truth is that we're in the middle of a sperm shortage crisis in this country. Did you know, for instance, that much of the sperm used in UK fertility clinics comes from Denmark, where apparently guys aren't so backward in coming forward?
There has been a steady decline in the number of donors in the last two or three years. And now that new rules on buying sperm from abroad are coming into force, the situation could get even more difficult for the one in seven couples in this country with fertility problems, many of whom rely on sperm and egg donations.
All the more reason then for more British men to give a toss, says the National Gamete Donation Trust (NDGT), a government-funded charity set up to raise awareness of sperm and egg donation.
Laura Witjens, Chair of NGDT, says: "We need to reach a new audience and so we chose viral marketing. We intend to get our message through to men we otherwise couldn't access by traditional methods."
Donor facts
The campaign launches immediately after Mothers Day to mark the fact that many UK women will remain childless unless more sperm donors offer their services. The NGDT needs 500 sperm donors annually, yet in the years leading up to 2005 only 160 donors came forward - and donors from ethnic minorities are in particularly short supply.
The good news is that it takes just one sperm donor to help 10 families. You must be aged between 18 and 45, and not suffer from any genetic or health problems. The process of donating is, however, a major commitment, requiring weekly or twice-weekly visits for up to six months.
You can make a sperm donation at one of many fertility clinics listed on:
To find out more, contact the NGDT's confidential helpline on:
- 0845 226 9193
For our local IVF unit at St Mary's Hospital, contact:
- Greg.Horne@cmmc.nhs.uk or 0161 276 6889