Wednesday, November 14, 2007

3 year wait for donor sperm in Britain

Another update on the donor sperm shortage in Britain. Dr David Farquharson, the clinical director, Women and Reproductive Services, at NHS Lothian, is telling couples seeking IVF with donor sperm that the wait could be up to three years. The crisis has been caused by new legislation which ended the donors' right to anonymity, enabling children born after IVF treatment to make contact with their biological parents. Since that legislation became effective the number of donors has almost completely disappeared. One enterprising couple did a donor recruitment drive, enlisting the help of a local TV station, which helped them move up the list faster. For most couples, however, they must simply wait it out and hope they get to the top of the list before they are too old to be eligible for treatment.

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