The BBC has uncovered in an investigative report how an unregulated market for sperm donations thrives online. Women seeking to fulfill their desire for a child but lacking access to clinical treatments turn to social networks for alternatives. There, they encounter men offering sperm for money, often accompanied by sexual assault.
As part of the investigation, a BBC journalist purchased a sperm sample for around 115 euros, which was delivered by mail the next day. The sender, who calls himself “Joe Donor,” advertised his services online and sent the sample in a box along with a frozen tomato paste pack. He claims to have fathered 180 children worldwide – both through intercourse and artificial insemination.
A family judge in Cardiff, Wales, publicly named the man – Robert Albon – to warn of the dangers of unregulated sperm donations. The UK’s fertility regulator warned that women risk “exploitation by predatory donors.” The BBC investigation shows how easy it is to obtain sperm online and how difficult it is to control such offerings.
Source: www.bbc.com
