|
Health Ministry Preparing
Guidelines For First Sperm Bank
A new kind of bank will soon be
opening for the first time in
Costa Rica: a sperm bank.
The Ministerio de Salud (health
ministry) is preparing
regulations for the first sperm
bank that will soon be opening
in the country.
Health officials say that they
have already inspected the
facility, though there currently
exists no regulations for a
sperm bank.
A sperm bank is a facility that
collects and stores human sperm
from donors, primarily for the
purposes of artificial
insemination. The first two
sperm banks were opened in Iowa
City, USA and Tokyo, Japan in
1964.
The sperm is stored in small
vials or straws and frozen in
liquid nitrogen tanks. There is
no shelf life on sperm and there
have been cases with birth of
healthy babies with sperm stored
for more than 20 years.
In the United States sperm banks
are regulated by the FDA with
new guidelines in effect May 25,
2005. There are also regulation
in different states including
New York and California. Outside
the US, the EU is working on
similar regulations as the FDA.
Using anonymous donor sperm or
known donors from a sperm bank
is a safe alternative.
Dr. Ariel Pérez who is in charge
of the sperm bank in Costa Rica
says that the bank will serve
for couples who want to have
children but have problems
conceiving. In addition, Dr.
Pérez, said that they already
have eight anonymous donors, two
of which get paid for each
sample their provide.
|
|
