Male donors put conditions on sperm use

Male donors of sperm are refusing to allow single women and lesbians to use their contributions.

And this has exacerbated a sperm shortage in the country, The Dominion Post reported today.

Wellington's Fertility Associates clinic director Professor John Hutton said that nearly half of the 18 donors who provide sperm have put conditions on who could use the sperm.

Of the 23 women on the clinic's books who want donor sperm, 14 are single and another three are in lesbian relationships.

Prof Hutton said it was likely that the donors who put restrictions wanted to ensure that children had the support of two parents.

Some men have also objected to their sperm being used by women over 45 years and some women who have donated eggs had also imposed similar restrictions.

The newspaper reported that a ban on gay sperm donors for lifestyle reasons could yet be reviewed. The Reproductive Technical Accreditation Committee will discuss the issue at a meeting next week.

- NZPA