NPR (National Pubic Radio in the US) reports that Britain is experiencing a severe shortage of sperm in sperm banks. What's the deal? Why the shortage. And can i as an American tourist coming to London in February expect to replenish dwindling trip funds by filling the gap, so to speak. Not only would this help alleviate the shortage but perhaps with more American genes in the gene pool have wide-ranging benefits for generations of Britons yet born?

It's probably because of the lack of anonymity nowadays.
Who wants a spotty herbert knocking on the door in 18 years time calling you "Daddy".

Unless you are an American Indian, your genes are going to be African, Asian or European. We have plenty of those here.

Actually the NPR report said UK banks were thinking of importing American stuff and Canadian as well. This should help the trade balance.

I don't know, might improve our teeth?

anyway, they've changed the law now so that sperm donors are no longer kept anonymous and the kids can trace them, so no-one wants to donate sperm any more.

Will my North American ATM banking card work at a U.K. Sperm Bank? What are the fees? And what should I wear when making a withdrawal (or deposit)?

Li

What a great job possibility for us seniors (if we are still up for it). When Herbert comes around we will be gone. Win-win.

Maybe people are using them.

The laws were changed to allow children conceived from donated to find out if they had any risk of genetic illness in later life, but despite the assurances that this would not lead to a drop in donors, it has been a disaster.

Many would be donors were put off by the thought that maybe , in later years, they law might be changed again to make them financially responsible for their offspring.

I think there was a study several years ago that showed Children resulting from sperm donations were statistically more intelligent than average, thought to be because the majority of donors were university students - and a high percentage of those studying medicine.

Previous British posters have got it quite wrong.

It's just that students these days are so busy bonking each other silly there's no filorum* left to give away.

Incidentally, most sperm clinics in Britain require the donor to be under 45, and pay only expenses or loss of earnings actually incurred. So PalQ's got no chance.

* Heavy users of twiddly-dee Irish pubs will remember the song that goes:

<i> He's got no filorum
Fol diddle eye orum
He's got no filorum
Fol diddle eye ay
He's got no filorum
He's lost his dildorum
Maids, when you're auld
Never wed and old man </i>