HEALTH

Sperm shortage forces women to look abroad

Three quarters of donated sperm used in the UK is now shipped in from overseas
Three quarters of donated sperm used in the UK is now shipped in from overseas
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A nationwide shortage of sperm donors is driving British women to rogue online sperm banks and foreign donors, a report says today.

Three quarters of donated sperm used in the UK is now shipped in from overseas, often after being purchased online from poorly regulated clinics.

The report by the fertility charity Progress Educational Trust (PET) said the shortage was putting women at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and increasing the likelihood of their children having genetic conditions. It is calling for a recruitment drive to get men in England to donate sperm to the NHS, urging those aged 18-45 with no health problems to sign up.

Sperm donation is regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and all donors are