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Latest Surrogacy News
Shortage of sperm risks IVF
By HEATHER LOW CHOY
18 December 2003
The Mercury
A SPERM shortage could jeopardise Tasmania's IVF
program, leading Hobart fertility specialists said
yesterday.
More local sperm donors are urgently required because
much of Tasmania's sperm stockpile is being sent
interstate.
Fertility specialist
Bill Watkins said Tasmania's sperm stocks were being
depleted by clinics interstate, where demand for sperm
far exceeded supply.
"The situation on the
mainland is desperate and it will become desperate here
within the next 12 months unless more men donate sperm,"
Dr Watkins said.
An Albury-Wodonga
fertility clinic this week cited a severe shortage of
sperm donors in Australia as its reason for advertising
a free two-week trip to Australia for Canadian sperm
donors.
The advertisement,
published in a Calgary newspaper, offers return
airfares, two weeks' accommodation and a daily
allowance, with participants expected to provide a semen
sample every two days in return.
Dr Watkins said his
fertility clinic would not offer free holidays.
"No payment either,
unless it's compensation for any costs involved, such as
having to drive to Hobart from Dover in order to make
the donation," he said.
Dr Watkins encouraged
Tasmanian men to donate sperm for altruistic reasons and
to regard it as they would donating blood or organs.
"If you donate, you're
helping people who otherwise wouldn't be able to have a
family," he said.
Gynaecologist Steve
Sonneveld, who works with Dr Watkins, said it was
difficult to attract new sperm donors because men were
concerned about anonymity and possible legal
obligations.
"It's true that we
cannot assure long-term anonymity, as children conceived
from donor sperm have the right to access identifying
information when they come of age," he said.
"But the donor does not
have any responsibility for the child, no legal
obligation and in the event of their death, the child
has no claim on their estate."
Dr Sonneveld said men
who were considering becoming sperm donors should
contact the fertility clinic at St Helens Private
Hospital in Macquarie St, Hobart.
The donation process
includes a medical examination, screening for infectious
diseases, semen assessment and, if the donor desires,
access to copies of Penthouse Black Label, to
which the fertility clinic has a subscription.
The clinic will also
soon be equipped to screen adult videos.
Both fertility
specialists also urged Tasmanian women to consider egg
donation.
"We have couples who
have been on the waiting list for an egg donor for 18
months," Dr Watkins said.
Egg donation involves a
course of injections and a minor surgical procedure.
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