The UK is Importing American Sperm to Deal With Shortage

There is a sperm drought looming over the UK, and they’re facing some issues keeping up with the demand. It is believed that donor numbers have dropped since 2005, when donors no longer had the right to anonymity (children who were conceived by way of a donor can now legally ask for the identity of their donor at age 18). And despite advances in fertility treatment causing a drop in demand for donors, there is still a large disparity. And doctors in the UK are turning to international sperm banks to deal.

British Fertility Society chairman Dr. Allan Pacey is concerned about clinics lowering their standards to meet demand. Via BBC:

“The worry is clinics might decide to change the quality of sperm they are willing to accept in order to get donors through the door and I think that’s a very dangerous road to go down.”

He’s also concerned that couples may turn to riskier practices like “DIY insemination with a friend’s sperm or seeking treatment in a country with less fertility regulation.”

It seems the US and Denmark are major suppliers of sperm for the UK, and one in four donated samples is imported from abroad.