Sperm Bank in Shanghai Has 100,000 Samples

Shanghai sperm bank which has been in operation for nine years contains over 100,000 samples, say sources. The Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, however, says it always lacks volunteers and has had a decline in sperm quality, the Shanghai Daily reported Monday.

Couples who cannot conceive now have to wait for at least a year to get sperm, officials said, calling for more young donors to ease the shortage.

Since 2003, the sperm bank has provided over 33,000 samples to 23 reproductive health centres in Shanghai and other parts of the nation.

This helped nearly 4,000 women get pregnant and deliver 1,956 healthy babies.

Officials said eight to 10 percent of married couples in the country are infertile, and about 10 percent of them turn to a sperm bank for help.

Because of improved technology, the possibility of a woman getting pregnant through artificial insemination has risen from 19.27 percent nine years age to the current 21.23 percent, and from 20 percent to 39.16 percent for in vitro fertilization, the daily said.

University students comprise the biggest and most stable pool for the sperm bank.

But the quality and vitality of male sperm has dropped by 40 to 50 percent in the past 50 years worldwide, an official said.

"Only 20 to 30 percent of volunteers give viable donations. The majority is discarded due to its poor quality," said an official at a sperm bank in Renji Hospital.

The sperm bank also allows men to store sperm, which is very useful to those who receive chemotherapy, people with immune disorders and others involved in dangerous jobs.

Source-IANS