College students had now become the main source of sperm donors in Guangzhou because of an increase in payment, domestic media reported yesterday.
The sperm bank in Guangzhou said more than 95 percent of its donors were college students. Their donations were helping ease a shortage over the past few years, the China Daily reported.
According to the Ministry of Health, however, only healthy males between the ages of 22 and 45 could donate sperm once in their lifetime, while gays and foreign nationals were not permitted, the newspaper said.
Men must undergo blood screening and other tests before their samples were accepted.
A donor could be paid as much as 3,000 yuan (US$450), sperm bank officials said.
It doesn t mean that they are selling sperm. We are providing meals and transport fees and compensation for loss of work time, said Tang Lixin, director of the Guangzhou sperm bank.
The bank had more than 900 donors last year.
Some students donate sperm for the increased payment, but most regard the donation as an act of charity to help those needing artificial insemination, Tang said. (SD-Agencies)
