Record number of babies born from sperm donors

A RECORD number of babies are being conceived using sperm donors, with the majority of new donors from foreign countries for the first time.

The number of children born to women who used sperm donors has more than tripled in a generation, driven by a rise in demand from single women and lesbian couples.

Experts say many women are struggling to find Mr Right or delaying motherhood to focus on their career.

In 2006, there were fewer than 900 babies born from sperm donors, but this rose to more than 2,800 babies in 2016, according to the latest figures from fertility regulator the human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

For the first time, 52 per cent of newly registered sperm donors used by British women live abroad the figures from 2020 show. Some 27 per cent were from the US and 21 per cent were from Denmark.

Male fertility expert Allan pacey, of Sheffield University, said: ‘Over the past 30 years, we have systematically struggled to maintain a robust national infrastructure to recruit sperm donors at a rate the country needs. This is in spite of several national recruitment campaigns and initiatives designed to increase the supply of UK donors.

‘It is not surprising to see in this report that we are now using more donor sperm that has been imported into the UK from donors in other countries – typically Denmark and the USA – than we have been able to recruit from within the UK.

‘I struggle to comprehend why this is the case, and think we need to take a long hard look at our donor recruitment infrastructure to try and make it easier or more convenient for UK men to donate.’

Sarah Norcross, of fertility charity the progress Educational Trust, said it was ‘striking that so much donor sperm is now being imported’ after their research found more than 50 per cent of UK men would consider donating. ‘ Clinics need to find ways to make it simple and straightforward for men who are willing to donate sperm to do so,’ she said.

In 2006, 135 single women conceived a child using fertility treatment, but this had more than tripled to 431 in 2019.