SHOULD SPERM DONORS BE PAID - A SURVEY OF THE ATTITUDES OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Gamete donation in assisted reproduction is an accepted treatment opti on for certain infertile couples. Traditionally, men donating spermato zoa have been paid a nominal fee, whilst women donating oocytes have n ot, The issue of payment for sperm donors has recently attracted atten tion following the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's (HFE A) suggestion that such payment may be withdrawn. Prior to the final m eeting of the HFEA working party which is examining this issue, here w e report the results of a survey designed to solicit opinion on whethe r sperm donors should be paid, to identify social or other factors whi ch influence this opinion, and to examine the influence of financial i ncentive on potential donors. We surveyed 717 individuals in three dis tinct groups: the general public, students (potential donors), and inf ertility patients (potential recipients). The majority of the potentia l donor group (students) was in favour of paying sperm donors, as were infertility patients. In contrast the general public was not. The opi nion of the general public on this issue was influenced by their prior knowledge of whether donors were paid: those of the general public fa vouring the payment of sperm donors had a prior awareness that such pa yments were made, Although not in favour of paying sperm donors, the g eneral public overwhelmingly approved of the use of donated spermatozo a for the treatment of infertile couples, and thought that ways should be sought to increase the availability of donor spermatozoa for the t reatment of infertility and for research purposes, Within the potentia l donor group (students), the majority indicated that financial reward was an important factor which would influence their decision to donat e spermatozoa. As the majority of both the potential recipients and po tential donors feels that sperm donors should be paid, perhaps the vie ws of these groups should carry significant weight when the decision w hether or not to withdraw payment is taken. This is especially the cas e in view of the fact that the majority of the general public is in fa vour of the use of donated spermatozoa for the treatment of infertile couples.