More and more college students in China's southern Guangdong Province have registered to donate their sperm partly for money, and this has drawn controversy and concerns that this might lead to marriage of same blood in the next generation.
Nearly 900 Guangdong residents, 95 percent of them college students, registered for sperm donation last year, said a doctor at the Guangdong Human Sperm Bank, Guangzhou Daily reported today.
The number doubled that of 2009 as a result of higher cash reward from the government. A qualified donor was paid nearly 3,000 yuan (US$456) last year.
Those who didn't qualify were each given 50 yuan as compensation.
A group of college students were sent to hospital for physical checks every two weeks last year and some schools ran short of quotas to meet the demand of students, the sperm bank official said.
By contrast, most parents gave lukewarm response to the sperm call. Some parents said they did not allow their children to donate sperm for fear of intermarriage among future generation.
"The ratio of intermarriage is extremely low," said Chen Zhenwen, chief consultant at a Beijing sperm bank.
Chen said the law permits one donor's sperm to be used only on five women. Besides, the donor and receivers' medical records and lineage will be scrutinized to ensure safety.
