Sperm donors in Canada are not willing to give their sperm away for free, a report states.
Since the Supreme Court of Canada banned the commercial trade in human sperm and eggs in 2004, sperm donations in this country have plummeted, suggests a new report released by Assisted Human Reproduction Canada.
And with rising number of lesbian couples and single women seeking to start families - as well as the 10% or so heterosexual couples who experience infertility - Canadian sperm banks are experiencing a severe supply-and-demand problem that’s only going to get worse, the report concludes. Yet patient demand for sperm is at 5,500, according to the report.
Currently, Canadians are getting 90% of their sperm from paid donors in the U.S. and Europe. Canada hasn’t banned the import of human sperm and eggs from for-profit sperm banks in other countries.
“The evidence-based standard model analysis suggests that there is a large gap between the numbers of altruistic sperm donors available and the demand for donor insemination,” the report reads.
While allowing sperm banks to dole out cash for sperm would be the most efficient way to close the gap, the report suggests an altruistic sperm-donation system could be workable if Canada launches an awareness campaign to increase donation.
“There were a variety of methods used in other jurisdictions that attempted to increase the number of sperm donors,” the report reads.
The report suggests asking couples seeking donor insemination to spread the word about the need for sperm donations, and asking vasectomy patients if they would consider donating sperm before their procedures.
Another idea the report floated around was mirror gamete donation, where the partner lacking the usable gamete would donate in exchange for the gametes they need. For example, men could donate sperm in exchange for oocytes (egg cells), and women could donate oocytes in exchange for sperm.
Finally, the report suggests Canada launch a media campaign promoting sperm donation.
“Under ideal conditions used in the best-case analysis, an altruistic sperm donation program could be achieved,” the report reads. “However, considerable effort would have to be made to create a significant increase in the awareness of the program and change in societal behaviour towards sperm donation.”
The report has been subject to some controversy, as its lead author, Dr. Edward Hughes, has spoken publicly against the Supreme Court’s ban on paid-sperm in the past.
Article: www.torontosun.com 2nd March 2011
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