Sperm donor wait prompts plea
A Baldivis couple who desperately want to be parents have waited more than 18 months for the chance to use a WA sperm donor because of a shortage.
After months of struggling to fall pregnant, Stephanie and Simon Lock, who are in their mid-30s, learnt in 2013 that Mr Lock had Klinefelter syndrome, which is the presence of an extra x-chromosome and means he is unable to produce sperm.
According to the Reproductive Technology Council of WA, there were only 138 sperm donors last year, up seven from 2012-13.
Australian Medical Association of WA president Dr Michael Gannon admitted there was a severe shortage of sperm donors in the State and empathised with families facing long waiting periods.
He said changes to the Human Reproductive Technology Act meant donor anonymity was no longer guaranteed.
"We have seen a drop in donors, but the welfare of the person born as a result of assisted reproductive treatment is paramount," Dr Gannon said.
"I've always wanted children," Mrs Lock said. "I did seriously consider online but thought going through a clinic would be safer."
While waiting, the pair sourced Victorian clinics and were offered donor sperm almost instantly.
Mrs Lock attempted two artificial inseminations mid-last year, each worth $4000 plus travel expenses.
Then in October and February, Mrs Lock tried in vitro fertilisation, at a cost of $10,000 each round, plus flights and accommodation.
Since then, doctors at Leederville-based Pivet Medical Centre have prescribed Mrs Lock a series of medications to help increase the quality and response of her eggs when she undergoes another round of IVF in two months.
"I haven't slept well for the past three years - it's been very stressful," she said.
Mrs Lock encouraged more men to donate so families could have more options to ensure their child looked as much like their partner as possible.
She said they were given seven candidates from Pivet, compared to more than 20 in Victoria.
"If you don't want kids, donate your sperm to help families less fortunate," Mrs Lock said.
While confident the next round of IVF will work, the couple agreed they would pursue fostering a child if it failed.
