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So why is something so easy to make and so readily thrown away so hard to get hold of? Simple: Donating sperm is ridiculously hard to do.You probably have an idea about sperm donation from your favorite sitcom. Giving sperm is a scene we've seen on TV about a billion times, always played for laughs. Guy walks into a clinic. Guy shuffles awkwardly in front of the attractive woman at reception and is directed to a small room filled with dirty magazines. Nature takes its course, he comes out with a little pot of goo, and a doctor tells him how many swimmers he's got.It turns out it's nothing like that. Not even close. While it's certainly not as hard as donating eggs, donating sperm is so awkward and disruptive for such a limited chance of success that it's amazing the National Sperm Bank managed to get nine whole men to take part.Let's assume you're a healthy male between 18 and 41. You then have to attend a clinic to pass an initial assessment and test. Since there are very few clinics around, and they tend to be in say, the centers of cities, you probably have an irritating and expensive commute to deal with. You fill in a questionnaire and provide a sample… Oh, and did you remember to abstain from alcohol, sex or masturbation for the last three days?Read: My Struggles with IVF: It's Not About Failure—It's About Hope
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