Ethics and society: A survey of semen donation: phase II — the view of the donors

Abstract

This report presents the findings of phase II of the survey of semen donation commissioned by the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the purpose of which was to obtain information about the motivations and attitudes of semen donors in comparison with a matched group of non-donors. A total of 14 centres licensed by the HFEA to conduct donor insemination participated in the investigation. At each centre, all men who attended for their first or second appointment between 1st November 1993 and 31st January 1994 were asked to complete a questionnaire about the factors which prompted them to attend the centre and about their knowledge of, and attitudes towards, semen donation. In spite of the recommendation by the HFEA that attempts should be made to recruit as semen donors older men in stable relationships who already have children of their own and who wish to donate for altruistic reasons, it remains the case that the large majority of men in the UK who donate semen are young single students who are largely motivated by payment. Views on oocyte donation of women who had never donated oocytes were also obtained, and compared with views on semen donation of a matched group of men who had never donated semen.