NationStates Jolt Archive

Stephen Colbert broke this last night, but here's the rest of the story (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/13/health/main4597958.shtml) ...

Britain is facing a sperm donor shortage after reversing confidentiality laws and limiting the number of women who can use sperm from one donor, fertility experts warned Wednesday.

Britain in 2005 changed the law protecting anonymous sperm donors and allowed children to learn the identity of donor fathers - one reason, fertility experts say, there are fewer donors now.

"The only countries that seem to have enough sperm are those that pay - like the U.S. and Spain - or the countries that retain anonymity," said Allan Pacey, a member of the British Fertility Society that warned of the shortage in the British Medical Journal.

In 1991, Britain logged 503 sperm donors, according to figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. In 2000, there were 325, and in 2006 - the year after the law was changed - the number dropped to 307.

Experts say 500 donors a year are needed to cope with the number of couples needing donor insemination in Britain.

Colbert wasn't calling for a bailout - he said he was happy to infuse capital entirely on his own. I don't think he's man enough to satisfy all those British would-me mommies. Any UK volunteers from NSG?

Much as I'd love to get paid to knock one out, nah.

well nobody has ever asked me...

Yeah I'd be up for that, especially since you get paid.

Oh..wait...

Oh..wait...

I think the biggest catch would be to resist knocking one out over a 24 hour period :p

"In the countries that have removed anonymity ... there seems to be a problem," he said.
What a completely unobvious result!
Why would anyone want to donate if they would run the risk of 10 complete strangers showing up on their doorstep one day, laying all their shit on you? That's not even getting into the legal issues that might come up one day when some greedy asshole tries to weasel child support payments.

What a completely unobvious result!
Why would anyone want to donate if they would run the risk of 10 complete strangers showing up on their doorstep one day, laying all their shit on you? That's not even getting into the legal issues that might come up one day when some greedy asshole tries to weasel child support payments.
Or not as much a greedy asshole, as a kid whose parents for some reason can't any longer support him, and he has no one else to turn to...

So if you kick him out, you're a HUGE BASTARD (and really you are). And then the law might be even more on his side.


You know, I'd probably agree to be a non-anonymous donor, IF, first, I was guaranteed absolute legal immunity from such things, and second, I had a say about where my material goes. I don't mean anything "dirty". Just as much as being able to deny an application. If my name's attached to it, it's not just some cream, it's my informational property.

I could do with the money, at the moment I'm careering along to a dead end and welfare reliance when university ends. On the other hand, I don't want some kid turning up on the doorstep one day a decade down the line, asking where their dad is and me being kinda obliged to tell them. Awkward much?:p I'd probably end up feigning ignorance, not telling them and hope they'd go away. It'd be like an even shitter version of Transamerica. If thats conceivable. Eehehe. Conceive. Its like my mind has a sat nav, stuck on destination 'bad puns'.

I think the government should provide liquidity to this bank.

Wait.. they pay?? I've been literally tossing money away;)

Sure. Let me wring out my silkies.
Although, admittedly, there's a few NSrs who get first pick.

This must be the only bank where you make a deposit and ten years later you end up in debt ;)

... satisfy all those British would-me mommies...

Is this a Freudian slip? ;)

This must be the only bank where you make a deposit and ten years later you end up in debt ;)

Nope, sounds like most banks really.

n 1991, Britain logged 503 sperm donors, according to figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. In 2000, there were 325, and in 2006 - the year after the law was changed - the number dropped to 307.So the law change caused an insignificant drop; doesn't seem like it was really relevant then.
The drop from 503 in 1991, to 325 in 2000 seems much more significant.