Well-paid sperm donations up during slumping economy

PORTLAND—Strapped for cash? A lot of men are turning to donations to get through the slumping economy, but we’re not talking about clothes or food, we’re talking sperm, which can fetch about $100 per donated sample.

“If you’re going to be a sperm donor you have to understand there are going to be children created out there based on your genetics,“ said Dr. David Battaglia, head of Oregon Health & Science University’s Reproductive lab.

It may be an obvious cause and effect, but Dr. Battaglia said it’s a critical one that donors need to understand. He said they also need to understand the extensive screening process and commitment that being a donor requires.

“They’ll (interested sperm donors) walk in off the street and say, ‘hey, I was thinking about donating some sperm today,‘ and I’ll look at them and say, ‘you know what you have to go through to be able to do the first sample?‘“

Battaglia said donor interest has increased tremendously as the economy has declined. Even so, he said donors typically won’t get paid until their sperm sells. Add to that the required sixth-month sperm quarantine period between the donation date and a final blood test to insure the donor is disease-free, and it could be a while before donors see the money.

Doctors require potential donors to undergo a whole battery of tests, both physical and psychological. Donors remain anonymous, but they’ll give their medical history, physical description and even their educational background.

“If they’re willing to go through the process it can be worth it in the end,“ said Battaglia. “At $100 a sample, once or twice a week over a year or two, that’s great mad money,“ he said.

Battaglia said right now, the clinic has a rotation of about 2 dozen sperm donors. Because it’s a small clinic, he said they have limited room for new donors, so they’re looking for those in highest demand. He said right now, that’s Asian men.

“We have a lot of Asian couples coming in looking start families, but there aren’t very many Asian donors who are willing come forward,“ said Battaglia.

Women can also earn a significant pay check for donating their eggs. At OHSU, the going rate for one egg is $5,000, but Battagliea said the process for harvesting the egg is time consuming and much more invasive than collecting a sperm sample.

“The money they get is in exchange for what they go through,“ said Battaglia. He added that above all, the one thing every donor must have is compassion. “You need an altruistic bent that you want to help a family have a child,“ he said.