British call for more sperm

The UK needs more sperm and egg donors to meet an increasing demand, the Government has announced.

The Department of Health today launched a campaign to encourage men and women to donate in order to 'Give Life, Give Hope' to the thousands of couples who have fertility problems.

It is men aged between 28 and 45 and women from 28 to 35 who are needed most.

Figures suggest that donations from just 0.01 per cent of the UK's fertile population would satisfy the current demand.

Health Minister Melanie Johnson said:

"As well as boosting the number of donors we want to encourage people to see the value of donating and to realise what it really means to the recipients - that they are giving families hope and the possibility of a new life."

She said that she wanted to 'dispel the myths' around egg and sperm donation and assure donors that they will have no financial or legal responsibility for any child - either now or in the future.

But new rules will lift anonymity from future sperm, egg and embryo donors and allow children to access the identity of their donor when they reach 18.