A COVID-fuelled “sperm drought” has heightened fears about unregulated sperm donations, with more women using social media to find donors and some allegedly being assaulted by men offering to help them conceive.
“Some pursue it because they presume it will result in conception, but I think if anyone is requesting natural insemination that’s a massive red flag because of the health risks involved.” Informal sperm donation is seen by some as an easier option because it allows people to bypass the costs and bureaucracy of regulated clinics, where out-of-pocket expenses can often be $5000 to $7000 for each cycle. By comparison, syringes that are filled with private donor sperm and used for home insemination cost less than $10.
The Andrews government has moved to establish Victoria’s first public egg and sperm bank, and announced $70 million in its latest budget to establish public fertility care services. According to the government, this will help up to 4000 Victorians every year, saving them on average $10,000 each. Men seeking to help couples for altruistic reasons have also been shocked to discover that there is no formal record of their donation.
After undergoing a range of health checks, he donated sperm to the couple and their first attempt at artificial insemination was successful.