TOKYO: More than 150 Japanese women have used the services of a Denmark-based sperm bank to try conceiving.
Cryos International, the world's largest sperm bank with 1,000 registered donors, started consultation services in Japan in February last year and has since provided sperm to individuals in 30 of the country's 47 prefectures.
According to the company, among their clients are single women, sexual minorities and women whose husbands are infertile.
Japan, which has a dwindling birthrate and an ageing population, has so far put off discussions on regulating the sale and purchase of sperm and ova, but this could change in the near future as calls mount for it to be regulated.
Kyodo News reported that the House of Councillors had begun deliberating on a bill related to auxiliary reproductive medicine using sperm and ova donated by third parties. However, it has postponed discussions on commercial transactions.
The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology does not allow its members to engage in sperm transactions for profit.
Two years ago, Keio University Hospital, which had been one of the major hospitals in Japan offering artificial insemination by donors, stopped accepting new recipients due to a fall in the number of anonymous sperm donors.
"We have seen an increase in interest and demand due to the difficult situation regarding fertility treatment," said Hiromi Ito, who is in charge of the company's operations in Japan.
Cryos said it had supplied sperm, mostly from American and European nationals, to individuals and medical facilities in 100 countries.
