Struggling sperm bank seeks ‘supermen’

Britain’s national sperm bank - which has only nine registered donors - is to launch a recruitment drive for UK “supermen”.

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London -

Britain’s struggling national sperm bank – which has only nine registered donors – is to launch a recruitment drive for UK “supermen”.

Laura Witjens, the bank’s chief executive, made the appeal a year after the facility opened.

A change in UK law in 2005, removing anonymity for sperm donors, is thought to have led to a drop in volunteers.

Miss Witjens now hopes to appeal to male pride to boost donations.

Men must have sperm strong enough to stand freezing to be accepted.

“If I advertised saying “Men prove your worth, show me how good you are”, then I would get hundreds of donors,” she said, adding that it had been inspired by Denmark - the second largest exporter of human sperm to Britain after the US.

The bank in Birmingham was set up in response to a huge rise in demand, particularly from same-sex couples and older women wanting children.

Donors receive £35 per donation - but higher payments are not seen as the answer, with fears it could lead to people lying about their health to get the cash. Miss Witjens said despite the donor shortage, families can still be demanding.

“We get asked for 6ft donors, when the average height is 5ft 7in Britain, so you are ruling out 90 percent of donors,” she told The Guardian.

“And they all want doctors or barristers, but the reality is those professionals have not got the time. So you actually get young guys with flexible jobs.”

The “Superman” campaign begins this month and will be followed by another drive that will urge men to make an “alternative Christmas gift”.

Daily Mail