title: Oocyte and semen donation: a survey of UK licensed centres.
abstract: In view of the difficulties encountered by licensed clinics in the recruitment of oocyte and semen donors, the present survey was commissioned by the National Gamete Donation Trust (NGDT) to provide systematic information on current practice as a basis for planning future recruitment strategies. Sixty-four clinics agreed to participate in the survey, of which 55 recruited oocyte donors, 30 recruited semen donors, and 24 recruited both oocyte and semen donors. Almost all of the clinics had experienced difficulty in obtaining a sufficient supply of donated oocytes, and many patients requiring treatment with donated oocytes were placed on a waiting list for more than one year. Three-quarters of potential donors changed their mind about donating after receiving information on the procedures involved. The difficulties in recruiting semen donors were generally less acute. In this case, the greatest problem was the high proportion of potential semen donors who were deemed unsuitable after completing the screening process. Clinics also reported a shortage of both oocyte and semen donors from specific ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Family and Child Psychology Research Centre, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK. c.murray@city.ac.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golombok
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D012098:Reproduction; D012661:Semen; D013074:Sperm Banks; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom