"Editor's note"
Birth has always been sacred and mysterious things, when the male sperm problems when they do not reproduce, human sperm bank gives family hope. Although Shanghai sperm bank is always in short supply, but not every donor must meet the quality requirements, and ethical issues to be considered. Deputy Director, laboratory director of the Shanghai human sperm bank Du Yanzhi repeatedly stressed that donor, love is more valuable than money.
Sperm donor must undergo a medical examination, including physical examinations, blood tests, sperm quality inspection. Through blood screening for hepatitis b, HIV/AIDS, must be taller than 165 cm in height, degree College, appearance requirements will not have a high myopia, the chromosomes of genetic disease screening.
Shanghai sperm bank, doctors tested the sperm. This picture China visual material
Pony before I graduate from a University in Shanghai, have tried donor sperm in my hometown, "just want to earn some pocket money. "
Pony memory, when the University many students see a sperm donation ad and choose to participate in. In part because of curiosity, it is undeniable that considerable subsidies, "us, if after 3 months to complete a donor, you can get a total of 5000 Yuan in subsidies. "
For undergraduates, the substantial amount of money. However, Deputy Director of the Shanghai human sperm bank, Director of the laboratory Du Yanzhi repeatedly, sperm donors should be focused on love rather than economic benefits. Although sperm bank now in short supply, but only those quality success requires donors to donate, while also taking into account ethical concerns.
Birth has always been sacred and mysterious things, when the male sperm problems when they do not reproduce, human sperm bank gives family hope. We entered the human sperm bank, trying to understand the assisted reproductive technology to answer questions many refinement and sperm.
Sperm shortage
For donors, the awareness of many people still joke or shy away from the opening stage.
Du Yanzhi says human sperm bank is for the treatment of infertility and prevention of genetic diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, for the purpose of using cryopreservation techniques, collection, testing, storage and delivery of sperm.
On March 20, 2003, the Ministry of Health established official approval in Shanghai renji hospital Shanghai human sperm bank, Shanghai City, is the first and currently the only human sperm bank.
"Sperm donation is an act of voluntary humanitarian, rather than being a paid commercial. But sperm bank sperm donor after all spent time, energy and transportation costs, we give certain traffic and the loss of subsidies. "During the interview, Du Yanzhi repeatedly said that love is more valuable than money.
Sperm actually than blood, now average at least ten couples have infertility. Studies have found that in modern society, men are under tremendous pressure from work and life. Coupled with the continued deterioration of the global environment, and tempo of work and lifestyle, genetic and other factors, male semen quality worse.
Du Yanzhi, marital infertility is about 10%, which causes about half of male-related, azoospermia accounted for 2% of the male population. Half of azoospermia patients through in-vitro fertilization birth children, every year at least 100,000 couples who need donor sperm. However, sperm donation is still unable to meet the growing demand, existing 19 sperm banks in the country are facing short supply condition, Shanghai is no exception.
When the guy has issues, if pregnant, his wife can only choose artificial insemination. Introduce Du Yanzhi, according to Chinese law, legal access only--human sperm bank sperm.
To find a fine source, Shanghai human sperm bank, through on-campus love lectures, online advertising and other ways to recruit donors. At the end of September 2015, has screened 7,628 qualified donors, through artificial technical and donor in vitro fertilization techniques, has enabled 9,921 women successfully conceive, born descendant 6957. Even so, it still cannot meet the demand.
The purpose of donor
Although the significance of sperm as much as blood donors, but under the influence of traditional concept, the subject of sperm in a public that seems to be so mysterious and obscure. Refers to sperm, there will always be inextricably linked to "sex" together, even if they wanted to do some publicity, it is difficult to grasp. "Online, publicity on the app, enter ' sperm ' is likely to be blocked. "In this regard, Du Yanzhi is also very helpless.
In addition, sperm donation the granting of subsidies in many people's eyes also has a certain degree of "luring". Not long ago, human sperm bank, Hubei Province, pushed a "buy new iPhone 6S programme" news, said sperm could easily have iPhone 6S. Kicked up a bit of a ruckus, and attracting countless questioning. Although this is just a publicity, but it does aim "not simple".
In fact, sperm bank shortage is not alone. United Kingdom national sperm bank was set up last year, however, a year later, only 9 "fine" registering donations.
The sperm bank executive weiteyangsi (Laura Witjens) called for the men to help ease the panic in stock. However, she was not willing to increase donor subsidies encouraged men to donate. She said publicly, if you increase the subsidies may cause problems, such as the donor in order to obtain subsidies, deliberately conceal the State of his body.
In her view, prove their masculinity may make men more interested in sperm it. Weiteyangsi said: "if I advertise: ' man, prove your worth, let me see how good you have it ', then I can get hundreds of donors. "
"Donors not just for benefits, a lot of people because of love, may also be part of the male instinct, hope that their genes can persist. "Du Yanzhi, with respect, not many people just for the sake of subsidies to sperm. In the practical work of Shanghai human sperm bank, most caring donors with social cognition, they feel healthy and various conditions are good, are very willing to donate this charity initiative to help infertile couples have a healthy child, there are some caring people refuse to grant, and willingly to donate.
During the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, a working guy, want to do their part for the victims, but with limited income. When he learned that love sperm can be obtained after the subsidy, he begged the sperm bank staff directly for him to give away this part of the subsidies to the disaster area.
Sperm quality and selection
Why has referred to "love", for one thing--sperm will not be easy, even if someone were benefits, not so good.
"We have very high standards for the quality of sperm, higher than the average level of the average person, can be said to be selected. "Shanghai human sperm bank introduced attending Chen Xiangfeng, fill in the application form of sperm donors, sperm bank will contact them to check. Include physical examinations, blood tests, sperm quality checks and so on. Through blood screening for hepatitis b, HIV/AIDS, must be taller than 165 cm in height, qualifications must meet the College, as well as appearance, if not high myopia, some chromosomes of genetic disease screening.
Most critical is the sperm quality. Chen Xiangfeng explained that sperm concentration of normal lower limit is 15 million sperm per milliliter, but the Health Department for the protection of patients with infertility and proposes stricter standards for donor, must reach 60 million sperm per milliliter, is four times the normal lower limit value; another indicator is the percentage of motile sperm before, normal value is 32%, for standard 60%. Thus, the screening rate is only one-fourth. In other words, 100 people, only more than 20 more in line with standards, formal participation in the donor team.
It is important to note, and more than 70 other people not sperm problems, just not as "robust", need not worry about the possibility of fertility. In case inspection found problems, will also be professional male doctor's medical advice, for example, tell him where is the problem, how can treatment, many people don't know their sperm.
"Met a college student, was originally intended to donate, but look, I found myself there is no sperm. After seeing the problems, go to treatment until after he graduated, perhaps success, will be able to have a baby. "Chen Xiangfeng says, this is not a common, but early detection and early treatment, it is also not a good thing. "We want to tell society, sperm donation, volunteers are very proud of. They are indeed very good, not only health and education also have a set of requirements. "
In fact, even by checking the official access to sperm donation teams, not everyone can follow through, not only ensure quality in six months, there are enough. Sperm is not as simple as we imagine the process of volunteers takes a lot of time and effort. Which is why sperm donation, volunteers, University students, the majority reasons.
Chen Xiangfeng explained that after the adoption of the full complement of free male medical examination, volunteers can donate. Throughout the process of sperm donation in Shanghai human sperm bank sperm interior finishes, because men are under normal conditions each row precision of only 2 to 6 ml, together with each sperm has ups and downs, only in case of inspection in order to put in storage, it is generally complete the whole process of sperm need to run 7-8.
"The students ' time is easily adjustable, relatively strong compliance. "Du Yanzhi said commuters time difficult to control, sometimes met on a business trip, and so on. For volunteers to better manage time, hours in the sperm bank also made corresponding adjustments. Saturday and Sunday as days of work, Monday and Tuesday shifts.
And because sperm flow long, more often, a sperm bank for volunteers to provide a travel subsidy of 50 Yuan. And completed 17 ml per person donation amount can be obtained a total of 3000 worth of traffic, delays, nutrition subsidies. Sperm donation is completed, will have to wait 6 months for another HIV test, all qualified, you can get 5000 Yuan subsidy. If in 3 months to complete the process of sperm, there are 1000 Yuan to encourage, 6000 in total subsidies. However, because the process is long, can really adhere to the completion of the donation process only qualified 80% of its volunteers.
Sperm in liquid environments.
This is in accordance with the Ministry of health provides that semen cryopreservation after six months, HIV antibody testing donor blood again, testing negative before using the frozen semen. Because after HIV infection, there will be a time of infection but could not detect Antigen, called the window period. In order to ensure the safety of sperm, to strictly enforce the screening criteria, all specimens must be stored enough time (180-day quarantine periods), repeat donor for HIV antibody testing.
"6-month time limit, and sperm quality has nothing to do but to ensure that the quality of the sperm, its security is guaranteed. If volunteers in 6 months do not complete all donations were made before the checks will still be useless. "Du Yanzhi explained.
Sperm interval is too long is not desirable, but not recommended for frequent donation. "Some volunteers, will come once a week is too much trouble, can get the best of the day. "Chen Xiangfeng admitted that sperm banks certainly do not approve of this practice, nor realistic. In his view, this sperm, even if enough, mass nor standard. Period of 6 months, it is hoped that volunteers can adjust status so that each time you donate sperm quality can be qualified. "Slow down, there's no need too many one-time donation. Adjust the State, donors will not have any effect on the body. "
Ethical issues to be resolved
Lack of sperm donors, refinement is coming. Shanghai human sperm bank and more than more than 20 domestic reproductive health centers, from all over the country needs more than more than 20,000 a year, but only out of more than 10,000 copies. "General waiting time by the Center for reproductive control, plus some her family need treatment, it is generally a year or so is normal. "Chen Xiangfeng says.
After inspection, the semen of the donor volunteers will save liquid nitrogen into the sperm bank environment. To avoid the occurrence of consanguineous marriages, 2006, published by the Ministry of health of the human assisted reproductive technology with human sperm bank verifying the implementation rules, each donor semen shall not be more than 5 women to conceive. Once you fill up 5, the sperm will be destroyed.
United States, a study showed that in a community of about 800,000 people, a donor give birth to 25 children and their offspring marry almost to zero, China's rules are more strict. "Sperm bank will be permanently stored on each donor materials, when these artificial insemination when the child reached the age of marriage, we can provide genetic counseling services to families in need, further reducing the probability of inbreeding. "Du Yanzhi said.
Meanwhile, by ethical considerations, sperm donors, and the donors are in a "blind to each other" State, donor and implementing human assisted reproductive technology medical workers maintain "mutual blindness," donor offspring and to keep "blind to each other".
In practice, all records of the donor to a sperm bank, has become a "number". Sperm banks in providing sperm to fertility Center, in the case of guarantee excellent quality, also has a physical card, and record donors ' height, education, place of origin, colour, shape, essential information such as hobbies.
However, according to China's relevant policies and regulations, the identity of the donor of a refinement and its descendants are confidential. If you want to provide access to relevant information, applications for official letter issued by the judiciary is required. For example, the police need the information, it is proof of the judiciary, and sperm or sperm donor information to who need strictly confidential. "This sperm bank is the most important of ethic norms, does not merely protect the sperm donor, also protects the fertilization and its descendants. "Chen Xiangfeng says.
However, many people find such a provision deprived of their refinement and their descendants ' right, this is indeed an oxymoron.
In this connection, the United Kingdom a precedent. From April 2005, the United Kingdom of refinement offspring after the age of 18 has the right to his father of Physiology. But such an approach is appropriate, still remains to be seen to do the tests. Considered by some critics, United Kingdom national sperm bank donor scarce, perhaps also relevant. United Kingdom media has also reported that a woman was calling for changes in the law, the sperm as "matrimonial property", stipulating that married men before the sperm, the hospital had to ask his wife for advice. The woman said, worried that her husband donors gave birth to children may get in touch with them, destroy their families.
For married men, sperm donation, Chinese laws have limits? At present whether married or unmarried, as long as the eligible men can donate sperm. "Sperm before they signed consent forms, volunteers are adults, and his capacity for independent judgment. If he is to donate, we will not intervene. "Chen Xiangfeng says.
Married male sperm can donate to this problem, life of Shanghai law society law and public health law Research Association Director-General Yang tongmei said that at present, the law did not expressly. But she thought, according to according to the fundamental standards and technical norms of human sperm bank, said: the donor the following occurs, be eligible donor immediately follows: genital warts second genital herpes ③ genital ulcers about abnormal urethral secretions; II donor had a new sexual partner. Such presumption when donor sperm is asexual companion, can without the spouse's sperm.
"There are many ethical issues, worthy of study. "Dan Yang tongmei said.
"Sperm donation"
One, who can donate?
A Chinese citizen resident in Shanghai, 20-45, height 165 cm or more;
College degree or above;
In accordance with the requirements of the national sanitation Planning Commission, donors must meet the health check criteria;
Colorless and weak, color blindness, high blood pressure, heart disease, no bad habits, no genetic history and history of sexually transmitted diseases;
Donor semen for use, rights and obligations signed full knowledge and informed consent;
Need to take their diplomas for the first time (or student ID) and the second generation ID card original.
Submit application for sperm, Shanghai human sperm bank only a neck brace after strict medical screening, in order to have the opportunity to become donors.
B, who is not suitable for sperm donation?
Family history of a genetic disease or hereditary diseases;
Psychiatric patients;
Infectious disease patients or carriers of disease;
Long-term exposure to radiation and toxic substances;
Semen is not eligible;
Patients with other serious organic diseases.
Third, what are the donor process?
First of all, staff donors will be psychological evaluation, fill out a personal information form, donor intent signed;
Doctors donor history and medical history information, general medical examination;
Donor sperm row precision, laboratory of semen;
After passing the blood tests, about 14 days to report;
Start blood tests normal sperm and semen, sperm donation, signed consent forms before;
Once it is accepted as a donor, visiting a sperm bank to donate semen once every 3-5 days, required abstinence 3-5 days before the donor, is in the process of collecting semen sperm indoor self collect semen by masturbation method. Sperm donor must be left alone in the room; other persons shall not be accompanied by each donation is appropriate transportation, nutrition and other subsidies;
In accordance with the provisions of the sperm bank sperm several times until it reaches the semen samples of stock requirements;
Six months after stopping sperm, will go to a sperm bank to do blood tests related to the review;
Sperm bank sperm donor of the above steps, given appropriate delay compensation and subsidized transport.
Four, what to check before the sperm?
Shanghai human sperm bank, free medical projects (part of projects required to meet the conditions can be carried out) Tu again received the Nobel Prize academician
A: first to test items:
1. blood pressure check
2. heart rate check
3. color blind, partially colorblind test
4. routine andrological examination
5. semen analysis
6. Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and pathogen detection
If the 1-4 has not qualified you cannot continue
If the reserved items are not eligible for this 1-4 all qualified next time you can review
If the 1-5 check all qualified (including reviews) first blood analyses were conducted:
B: first blood analysis project
1. hepatitis b second half
2.HIV antibody (HIV)
If a and b are all qualified, then a second blood analysis:
C: second blood analysis project
1.RPR (syphilis)
2.GPT (liver function)
3. hepatitis c antibody
4. giant cell
5. Toxoplasma gondii
6. blood type identification
7. chromosome
Five sperm there is no damage to the body?
Sperm on the body without harm. Semen is primarily composed of water and a small amount of organic ingredients, normal male testes to produce sperm all the time. Under normal circumstances, when sperm reaches a certain amount, by various means, such as nocturnal emissions, passed out of the body. So, for normal young adult men, row 2-3 times a week fine, does not cause harmful effects to the body.