Number of babies born from donor sperm or eggs has nearly TRIPLED in past 15 ... trends now
A record number of British babies are being conceived using sperm donors, with the majority of new donors coming 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, as experts say many women are struggling to find Mr Right or delaying motherhood to focus on their career.
In 2006, there were less than 900 babies born in the UK 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 & Embryology Authority (HFEA).
This means the number of new sperm donors in the UK, of around 400 a year, is failing to keep pace with the rise in demand driven by single women and lesbian couples.
In 2006, there were less than 900 babies born in the UK 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 & Embryology Authority (HFEA)
For the first time, more than half of newly registered sperm donors used by British women live abroad - mainly in the US and Denmark — the latest figures from 2020 show.
Male fertility expert Allan Pacey, from the University of Sheffield, 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 US - than we have been able to recruit from within the UK.
Earlier this year, it emerged unregulated sperm donor James MacDougall had fathered 15 children without making it clear he had an incurable genetic condition
'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 if they want to.'
Sarah Norcross, director of fertility charity the Progress Educational Trust (PET), said: 'It is striking that so much donor sperm is now being imported into the UK from the US and Denmark, suggesting that there is a shortage of UK donors.
'However, research commissioned by PET this year, conducted by Ipsos, shows that more than 50 per cent of UK men would consider donating sperm to help others have children.
'Seen in this context, the HFEA's data seems to indicate that UK clinics are failing to capitalise on existing goodwill.
'Clinics need to find ways to make it simple and straightforward for men who are willing to donate sperm to do so.'
Almost half of IVF attempts using sperm donors are for heterosexual couples, where the male partner has a fertility issue.
But a fifth of IVF cycles using sperm donors are for single women, who the HFEA says are driving the rise in demand along with lesbian couples.
In 2006, 135 single women conceived a child using fertility treatment, but this had more than tripled to 431 women in 2019.
Some women surveyed by the HFEA last year told the regulator they had been forced to find a sperm donor abroad because of problems sourcing one in the UK.
The number of newly registered foreign sperm donors used by British women has more than doubled from almost 200 foreign men in 2013 to 400 men in 2020.
The number of sperm donors have failed to keep up with demand despite research suggesting 50 per cent of UK men would consider donating to help others have children
The shortage of British donors has led to rise in the number of couples and single women importing sperm from abroad
Some 52 per cent of newly registered sperm donors in 2020 came from abroad - up from just 22 per cent in 2010.
Of this 52 per cent, 27 per cent of foreign donors came from the US and 21 per cent came from
