I don't think sperm donors think deeply about what they are selling to childless couples. Donors are selling their children, not some commodity! When the child reaches 18 the donor has a responsibility to make a connection with the now adult person he/she helped to create. If not they are selfish

Cheryl (Natalie Ann) , Greenwich, USA

In the instances of blood disorders and cystic fibrosis the twho biological parenst need to be on hand. I think the adults involved are selfish, chasing nine months gestation: it's not even as if they want each others's child, but just any.

Stella, London , England

Allowing sperm donors to be anonymous is outrageous. How did they get away with it for all those years? Looks as if some of them
still do, as there are off spring who are now adults and don't know
because anonymity was permitted. Who can help these people
know who their father and mother are?

Joyce Bahr, New York, USA

I cant wait for my offspring to discover me and force me to finance their college education. Everything has consequences "but lets not worry about that right now is the deliberate lying mantra". I will pay dearly mentally, physically and economically for siring these biological deprived kids as they

Paul, Erie,

Why are we so determined in this day and age to get everything we want when we want it, even if it's against what nature decides? People who want children so desperately they will create a child using a strangers sperm or egg. And donors have a responsibility. They are creating life.

Holly, Midlands, UK

I think that the rights of a child to know it's biological origins comes above the rights of a woman to have a child.
If a man thinks twice about donating sperm then it might well be a good thing.

Jenny, Reading,

It is vital for the proper protection of men's rights that sperm donation is avoided until the law is adjusted. The continuing entrenchment of anti-male bigotry in the judicial system must be resisted. Just say no!

Nick, Rotherham, UK

Damian - if you donate through a clinic, you are a donor and are not financially liable. If you donate to your friend down the road without going to a clinic - like the fireman chased by the CSA a few months ago - you can be financially liable to support the child.

Pat J, London, UK

This reduction would seem a very obvious reaction. Officials denying it should be sacked.
Laws on financial support can and do change. An 18 yr old can claim support for tertiary education under MCA 1973 from parents; this might well be tested with a sperm/egg donor with high college fees now.

Damian, Brighton, UK

No rational man will take the risk of being sued for child support by a woman, or especially by a state welfare agency, just for a measley $50 donation fee. Remember, state welfare agencies have paid legal staff and sue for child support on behalf of welfare recipients in ALL states.

Andrew P, Alexandria, VA

"Donating" your sperm is abandoning your children, plain and simple. I speak as one of those "donor-conceived" offspring denied access to my father.

Tom, Cambridge,

Pip Morris cites a lack of awareness for the fall in gamete donor numbers. I would suggest that the public now have a greater awareness of the serious long term consequences for families and individuals "built" in this manner and prefer not to "donate" their biological children to strangers.

Christine, Devon, UK

The LibDem spokesman says there was absolutely no need for the disastrous change of the law, but the government was actually using the "offspring's" (over-18s so not children) insecurities and curiosity to push Roman Catholic, anti-"unnatural" practices ideology, as they many times under Blair.

Jenny, |Mancheter,

I would never donate sperm to a public bank. The last guy who did, was sued succesfully for child support!

Jeff, upstate ny, USA

Well as a sperm donor who today! contributed the last of required number of "samples" - part of my motivation was the possibility of meeting some of my offspring. I feel really good about myself for helping others - I also know I am now one of the most sexually succesful people on the planet.

Chris, St Albans, England

The law in England (not sure about the US) is pretty clear that sperm donors have no parental/financial responsibility for any children that emerge as a result of those donations. You actually get a form that says this when you apply.

Chris, St Albans, England

I suggest:

1. Go abroad for fertility treatment
2. Adopt a child
3. Get a pet. Many couples enjoy having pets instead of children.

BSR, Portland, Oregon, USA

I say that it's all rather shallow and pedantic.

Lee, Westchestersonville, UK

Okay, I can see where it might seem strange if a biological child showed up 18 years later but then again (if you donated with your wife being totally informed) then it might be really wonderful to meet up. If you are healthy and intelligent maybe it's something to consider.

Mike McNew, Stockholm, Sweden

As the parent of three beautiful girls concived through donor insemination, I can say that from my heart that there is no way to describe how lucky I feel each and every day that my wife was able to carry and deliver our children. If you have never been there, it's difficult to understand.

name witheld, location witheld, usa

>> These young people grow up completely confused about their identity
That is a NOT true. I have never met my biological father and don't have a desire too other that curiosity. However, I LIKE myself as a person. God has gifted me with a sense of SELF and a love of OTHERS which make a difference

Jon, USA,

Here, the centers accept donations only from college educated men who are more than 5 feet '10 inches tall.

College educated sperm, HA!

Justin, Atlanta, USA

To Mark Lyndon of Manchester - the "children" cannot find any details until they are no longer children anyway, so it makes no difference at all as no children can gain this information. You also clearly failed to read the article which addresses the issue of numbers going up.

Vini Holden, Preston, UK

I didn't have space to address the wider trend raised by Pat J in my article, but there's a good explanation for falling donor insemination between 1993 and 2001. It's the advent of a technology called ICSI that allowed some infertile men to conceive with their own sperm, so they no longer needed donors. That can't account for the more recent fall -- the switch from DI to ICSI for suitable patients had already happened, and the number of procedures was static at around 3,100 before the law was changed.

Mark Henderson, Science Editor, The Times

Why do people think that egg and sperm donation is such a great thing?These young people grow up completely confused about their identity, roots and where they belong. As far as in the interest of the child, this drop in donation is a good thing.

Patrica Rice, Gillingham,

Those most directly affected by gamete donation are the children. Their interests come ahead of those of the parents, donors & clinics, & they seem to be overwhelmingly against secrecy & donor anonymity.

The no of donors has gone up both years since anonymity was ended, reversing a 3 yr decline.

Mark Lyndon, Manchester, UK

I would donate but, I dont fancey haveing kids turn up on my door step in 18 years time, I mean why?

It's jsut going to be embarrassing, and make me feel obligated to interact with them, when really they will be total strangers.

The goverment needs to back down on this one.

MR W Jones, Liverpool, England

This is another one of those things that might have been a good idea until the lawyers got into the picture. I can understand why a child might eventually want to know more about their origins, diseases and other family things that could come into play. I understand why a donor wants to stay unknown

Russ, Pasco, USA

Adopting a child is an option but it is much MUCH more expensive and an even longer wait. Unless you want to adopt a 5 year old, which is not want most people want.

Blake, SD, USA

I've heard of more than one case of sperm donors being successfully sued for child support. I imagine that plays a big part in the demolishing of the business.

James, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

If you are going to use someone elses eggs and sperm why not just adopt children that have already been born? You are only pregnant for about 9 months out of a child's entire lifetime, if you look at it in the long run it's not the most important memory you will have with your child.

Dawn, Tampa Bay, USA

Not to mention predatory women who try to collect child support from sperm donors...

Patrick, Flint Hills, Kansas, USA

Just one example of the present administration's sole expertise: invoking the law of unintended cosequences, despite the warnings, in their pursuit of "equality", and banishment of all prejudice, except its own.

John Lee, Wirral, UK

What a dismissive way of dealing with the need for donor conceived children to know their origins. V disappointed with Evan Harris. He really should know better than to say it's all about anonymity. I've just checked the HFEA figures - donor insemination has been falling steadily since 1991!!!

Pat J, London, UK