Spokesman for good-natured wankers Australia-wide

[dalekboy]

Just had a phone call. I may be doing another interview on being a sperm donor for The Australian. I feel quite cheery and chuffed about this.

The only sad side is that the journalist is from Sydney. Why is that a sad side? I've been asked because they couldn't find anyone in Sydney willing or able to do it.

Which isn't surprising - last I heard there were five active sperm donors in the whole of NSW.

Comments

[kaths.livejournal.com]

Yep, in Vic lesbians and singles can only have access if they qualify for IVF due to fertility problems, or IUI (syringe method) due to ovulation problems. Hence so many going to Albury. Although that'll change in about 6 months as the law is changing.

People I've heard talk about the issue say they don't think the changes in Vic will make much difference (ie draining the sperm banks dry) because with the increase in use of ICSI (injecting a sperm into the egg), particularly with it now getting a Medicare rebate number, less couples need donor sperm, so there's more to go around, so to speak.

In terms of NSW, if there's only 3 active donors and 2 waiting, then nobody can actually be draining it dry, there's nothing to drain! Qld doesn't seem to have the same kind of waiting lists, and I didn't have to wait in VIC. Sounds like they need to do a better recruiting job.

The guy you spoke to probably read this: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23077288-2,00.html

....

Okay, I've just looked up the info I have access to.
Canberra fertility only have a couple of local donors. Monash Qld have about 15 donors, Monash Vic have 20. Monash seems to have a fair amount overall and share it amongst their various clinics in Aust.

IVF Australia have an 18 month waiting list. It's been said that they're the only ones inS ydney with donor sperm, but Sydney IVF have a few with a 6 month waiting list.

Some clinics import from the US (more info, but more expensive), eg Fertility First and Fertility East in NSW (although apparently they have a couple of local donors).

Only 2 WA clinics have donors, and they have a long waiting list. SA has a few but only for IVF, not IUI. TAS is pretty limited.

All this changes from month to month as they use up donor sperm and gain new, and the demand varies, but it gives a vague idea.

Another factor which will impact is that I think they're reducing the family limit from 10 to 5. Not sure if it's per state or not - didn't you find something out about that?

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

RE: the article, John Braine is who I was actually speaking to.

And, as far as I know, and I may be wrong, it's still ten families total, but only five per... state or capital city, not sure which.

With the legislation changing all the time, it's hard to keep up.

[mireille21.livejournal.com]

The law changed recently in Vic with regards to singles and lesbians I believe.

[kaths.livejournal.com]

Yep, but it won't be put into effect for another 6 months probably.

[emma-in-oz.livejournal.com]

WA's system has effectively shut down and they have just rejected a move to increase the no of children from each donor to 10 from 5.

[kaths.livejournal.com]

It's amazing how different it is in different states. In some ways I'm lucky to be in Vic in that there is a resonable supply, but on the other hand I had to jump straight to IVF (luckily I qualified), couldn't even give IUI a go (unless I did it myself).

[emma-in-oz.livejournal.com]

I had to import my own (in a person):-) as there is simply none.

[kaths.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I know of WA people who travel to Qld for IUI or IVF.