Semen donors’ contribution important

Press, 7 March 1988, Page 4

Semen donors’ contribution important

NZPA Wellington Semen donors should be recognised for their unique, and special contribution rather than being seen as shadowy, I suspicious characters, obste-, tricians and gynaecologists, meeting in Welling-! ton, have been told. While donor contribution played an important part in donor insemination programmes in New! Zealand, it was easy to forget the donor, a senior lecturer in social work at the University of Canterbury, Mr Ken Daniels, told delegates ,on Friday. , Mr Daniels’, a guest i speaker at the ninth Con-' gress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, recently

completed a study iof 37 donors to canvass! issues concerning donors and to recruit new donors.: More than 90 per cent gave altruism, a desire to help infertile couples, as their main reason. A quarter mentioned money as a consideration, and only 16 per cent said they would not give semen if they were not paid or reimbursed for expenses. His study also indicated a limited range of donors. More than 62 per cent were from professional or technical fields with only 16 per cent students. They were well educated, three-quarters having had or undertaking a tertiary education.

Other profile characteristics which appeared from the study showed that more than half of the donors were married and that 62 per cent had children. Mr Daniels said the only question left unanswered that caused concern was whether donors thought about their offspring. Sixty-eight per cent said sometimes, less than a quarter said never, and 14 per cent did not answer. “It is only natural to have thoughts concerning the child's progress, welfare and environment." Mr Daniels said. J Another similar ques-

tion concerned the high percentage which did riot know if they had fathered children but would like jto. Thirty-eight per cent suggested that donors needed more consideration and that it was not “deviant” to want to know details of their children. Many donors, 41 per cent, did not want their children told who ttieir fathers were and almost half said they would (not be willing to give semen if they could be traced. | Recruitment problems with semen donors wpuld continue in New Zealand unless the importance of the donor was recognised, Mr Daniels said. I