After years of debate, importation of foreign sperm into the UK is likely to be approved. After threats of legal action at the European Court, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which licenses fertility treatment in the UK, is expected this week to give the green light to British hospitals to import and use foreign sperm. It would be the first time that hospitals have been allowed to import sperm since legislation was introduced ten years ago.
Professor Richard Fleming of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary applied to the HFEA to import sperm but was initially rejected because the authority maintained a total ban was necessary to ensure that screening methods were of the highest quality. If the ban is lifted, Professor Fleming proposes to import sperm from Denmark to boost dwindling sperm supplies at Glasgow Royal Infirmary which currently only has one donor.
Professor Fleming believes that the debate in the UK about ending anonymity for sperm donors has contributed to the sharp decline in donor numbers.
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