Sperm bank begs for donations, offers $800 to donors  

四川人类精子库遇“精荒” 补贴5000应征者寥

受传统观念影响，“捐精”一直是个较为避讳的话题，而事实上，供需关系目前仍是“供不应求”。此前有媒体报道，目前全国都呈现出“精荒”状态，而四川目前的情况也并不乐观，四川人类精子库主任岳焕勋教授呼吁：希望更多的健康男性加入到捐精者的行列。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) -- The director of the Sichuan Human Sperm Bank in Chengdu has called for more healthy men to donate sperm.

"The demand is high due to an increasing number of people with fertility problems, coupled with limited stocks of sperm," said Director Yue Huanxun on Tuesday.

"Influenced by traditional views, people misunderstand sperm donation and are not as active as blood donors," Yue said.

"Though the sperm bank has offered cash payments of up to 5,000 yuan (US$821) to donors, the number of qualified sperm donors is still limited," Yue added.

Donors are given 200 yuan for each donation, but they must undergo tests for Hepatitis B and syphilis. A successful volunteer must donate sperm 10 or 15 times, Yue said.

Around six months after the donations, donors are required to take an HIV examination. Then they will receive a final payment of 3,000 yuan. The total payments amount to 5,000 yuan.

The candidates should be 22 to 45 years old, healthy, and have no genetic diseases.

Set up on Jan. 11, 2013, the sperm bank at the West China Second University Hospital is the 17th such facility in China approved by the Ministry of Health, and the first in the southwest part of China.

"The majority of the donors are college students, since they are young, energetic, and find it easy to accept new things," Yue said.

Yue also asked the public to donate and contribute to the sperm endeavor.