Britain sees file low sperm donations as births from donors triple
The UK is now offering free sperm analysis as the country sees record low sperm donations but a rise in births, as the initiative comes alongside a £10 increase in donor compensation
UK sperm donation is now at an all-time low. Despite the shortage, donor conception resulted in over 4,100 births in 2019, accounting for 1 in 170 of all births and nearly 1 in 6 IVF births in the UK.
To combat the issues, the UK has increased its donor compensation by £10 as of October 2024, rising to £45 per donation. Cryos International, a Manchester-based sperm bank, is now offering the UK’s first same-day semen analysis service, providing men with a better understanding of their reproductive health. This free initiative offers a non-diagnostic assessment of key sperm quality criteria, including sperm count and motility.
The quick and confidential process takes place at Cryos’ Manchester clinic, located near the bustling city centre and university campuses. Open to men aged 18 to 45, participants are guaranteed same-day results.
This is part of Cryos’ commitment to demystifying male reproductive health, demonstrating how lifestyle factors can impact male fertility, breaking the stigma around sperm donation, and assisting more people on their journey to parenthood. The launch comes amid an unprecedented demand for fertility services in the UK, with births from sperm donation tripling since the turn of the millennium, even as donor numbers reach an all-time low.
Lab Manager Samantha Duffy-Olive stated: “Simple lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on sperm quality. And by launching our new free semen analysis service we’re hoping to be able to offer valuable advice that could make a real difference to improving male reproductive health. By encouraging more men to prioritise their well-being we hope to be able to help even more families achieve their dreams of parenthood.”
With the launch of our new free semen analysis service, we aim to provide valuable advice that could significantly improve male reproductive health. By encouraging more men to prioritise their well-being, we hope to help even more families realise their dreams of parenthood.
“Men can schedule appointments via the Cryos website before completing the process at Cryos’ Manchester facility. The semen parameters analysed and published in the reports are benchmarked against World Health Organisation standards and provided confidentially via phone and email.
Participants will receive guidance on improving sperm quality through lifestyle modifications, which could include reducing alcohol and caffeine intake, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy diet and other habits. This initiative follows the successful launch of Cryos’ Manchester clinic last spring.
Since opening the doors to the facility in Manchester Science Park, just a stone’s throw from Manchester’s main university campuses, they have received over 1,000 applications. The launch comes amid an unprecedented demand for fertility services in the UK, with births from sperm donation tripling since the turn of the millennium, even as donor numbers reach an all-time low.
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