Feasibility of an altruistic sperm donation program in Canada: results from a population-based model

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Abstract

Background

Stringent donor-screening criteria and legislation prohibiting payment for donor gametes have contributed to the radical decline of donor insemination (DI) using sperm provided by Canadian men. Thus, many individuals rely on imported sperm. This paper examines the feasibility of an altruistic sperm donation (ASD) program to meet the needs of Canadians.

Methods

Using Canadian census data, published literature and expert opinions, two population-based, top-down mathematical models were developed to estimate the supply and demand for donor sperm and the feasibility of an ASD program.

Results

It was estimated that 63 donors would pass Canadian screening criteria, which would provide 1,575 donations. The demand for DI by women was 7,866 samples (4,319 same sex couples, 1,287 single women and 2,260 heterosexual couples).

Conclusion

Considerable effort would be necessary to create the required increase in awareness of the program and change in societal behaviour towards sperm donation for an ASD program to be feasible in Canada.

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Most cited references 31

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Estimating the prevalence of infertility in Canada

Tracey Bushnik, Jocelynn L. Cook, A. Yuzpe … (2012)

BACKGROUND Over the past 10 years, there has been a significant increase in the use of assisted reproductive technologies in Canada, however, little is known about the overall prevalence of infertility in the population. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of current infertility in Canada according to three definitions of the risk of conception. METHODS Data from the infertility component of the 2009–2010 Canadian Community Health Survey were analyzed for married and common-law couples with a female partner aged 18–44. The three definitions of the risk of conception were derived sequentially starting with birth control use in the previous 12 months, adding reported sexual intercourse in the previous 12 months, then pregnancy intent. Prevalence and odds ratios of current infertility were estimated by selected characteristics. RESULTS Estimates of the prevalence of current infertility ranged from 11.5% (95% CI 10.2, 12.9) to 15.7% (95% CI 14.2, 17.4). Each estimate represented an increase in current infertility prevalence in Canada when compared with previous national estimates. Couples with lower parity (0 or 1 child) had significantly higher odds of experiencing current infertility when the female partner was aged 35–44 years versus 18–34 years. Lower odds of experiencing current infertility were observed for multiparous couples regardless of age group of the female partner, when compared with nulliparous couples. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that the prevalence of current infertility has increased since the last time it was measured in Canada, and is associated with the age of the female partner and parity.

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Recommendations for gamete and embryo donation: a committee opinion.

, (2012)

This document provides the latest recommendations for evaluation of potential sperm, oocyte, and embryo donors, incorporating recent information about optimal screening and testing for sexually transmitted infections, genetic diseases, and psychological assessments. This revised document incorporates recent information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the American Association of Tissue Banks, with which all programs offering gamete and embryo donation services must be thoroughly familiar, and replaces the document titled, "2008 Guidelines for Gamete and Embryo Donation: A Practice Committee Report," last published in Fertil Steril 2008;90:S30-44. Copyright © 2013 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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A systematic review of sperm donors: demographic characteristics, attitudes, motives and experiences of the process of sperm donation.

U Van den Broeck, Andrée Vandermeeren, D. Vanderschueren … (2015)

BACKGROUND This systematic review aimed first to integrate the current body of knowledge on the demographic, institutional and psychosocial information on sperm donors, and second to provide insight into the actual experiences of men who donate and the attitudes towards potential donation. METHODS Electronic databases (PUBMED, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase and Web of Science) were searched with no date restriction using a specific search strategy followed by a snowball strategy. English language peer-reviewed abstracts and full texts were screened for eligibility and the risk of bias was assessed with 15 criteria. Eligibility, quality assessments and data extraction were performed by two independent researchers, resolving disagreement by discussion. RESULTS The initial search retrieved 857 studies and after quality assessment, 29 studies were retained for data extraction. Data from nine countries were obtained. The review synthesis revealed differences and similarities between actual and potential sperm donors on demographic characteristics, financial compensation and attitudes towards anonymity, disclosure and providing information to potential offspring. A number of methodological shortcomings have been identified in the studies investigating sperm donors. CONCLUSIONS Institutional factors (such as recruitment procedures, altruism versus compensation of sperm donors, anonymity versus open-identity donation) and the impact of changing legislation have largely dominated the studies on sperm donation. Furthermore, studies from countries with a bias towards white Western ideology and interpretation were over-represented. This has resulted in a profile of potential and actual sperm donors in terms of demographics, recruitment strategies, motivation for donation and attitudes regarding anonymity, disclosure, recipients and offspring. However, the psychosocial needs and experiences of the donor, and their follow-up and counselling are largely neglected. This review has identified key issues to inform current practice and the development of pathways of care for sperm donors that reflect the multidimensional nature of sperm donation.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Daria O’Reilly: oreilld@mcmaster.ca

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Reprod Health

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Reprod Health

Title: Reproductive Health

Publisher: BioMed Central (London )

ISSN (Electronic): 1742-4755

Publication date (Electronic): 14 January 2017

Publication date PMC-release: 14 January 2017

Publication date Collection: 2017

Volume: 14

Electronic Location Identifier: 8

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada L8S 4 K1

[2 ]Programs for Assessment of Technology in Health (PATH) Research Institute, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON Canada L8P 1H1

[3 ]Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment Collaborative, Leslie Dan Pharmacy Building, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada M5S 3 M2

[4 ]Masters of Science student of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Western Ontario, London, ON Canada N6A 3 K7

[5 ]Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada L8N 3Z5

Article

Publisher ID: 275

DOI: 10.1186/s12978-016-0275-0

PMC ID: 5237486

PubMed ID: 28088240

SO-VID: 542f44b4-3464-41a6-98e6-cc9fb79fcd17

License:

Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

History

Date received : 21 January 2016

Date accepted : 28 December 2016

Funding

Funded by: Assisted Human Reproduction Canada

Custom metadata

ScienceOpen disciplines: Obstetrics & Gynecology

Keywords: models,reproductive techniques,spermatozoa,altruistic sperm donation,artificial insemination

Data availability:

ScienceOpen disciplines: Obstetrics & Gynecology

Keywords: models, reproductive techniques, spermatozoa, altruistic sperm donation, artificial insemination

Feasibility of an altruistic sperm donation program in Canada: results from a population-based model

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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Animal models of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)

Most cited references 31

Estimating the prevalence of infertility in Canada

Recommendations for gamete and embryo donation: a committee opinion.

A systematic review of sperm donors: demographic characteristics, attitudes, motives and experiences of the process of sperm donation.

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