News & Events

In The News

Canadian Women Targeted for Free Sperm Donations

Published: 12/13/2010

The offer of free sperm donation may seem tempting for women dealing with fertility issues but Health Canada and lawyers are warning that free is risky and against the protocols of Canadian regulations.

The issue at hand stems from several Australian websites that are providing a list of Canadian semen donors. The list does not comply with Canadian laws says Emily Larose, a partner in the Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP Advocacy Group.

"Health Canada has issued an alert about the potential dangers of using fresh donor semen for assisted conception and identified three Australian websites that provide a list of Canadian semen donors. Unfortunately, the Internet has made it easier to access items and drugs - including semen in this case - that don't comply with Canadian laws," states Larose in a press release.

In Canada semen donation is regulated as a drug unless the semen to be used is a spouse or sexual partner. The regulations are in place to protect women and their future children from the possibility of infection.

Canadian semen must be processed before distribution. The processing includes donor screening, testing, a period of quarantine and proper labeling.

Last week Health Canada sent out an advisory about donor semen and the dangers of using fresh donor semen for assisted conception.
The safety of donor semen intended for assisted conception is paramount. To this end, Semen Regulations set forth requirements that are aimed at minimizing the potential risk of transmitting infectious agents to mother and child. Donor semen for assisted conception must be processed in accordance with the Semen Regulations and quarantined for a minimum of six months. The donor must be screened and tested before and after the donation in order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious disease.

Under the Food and Drugs Act, donor semen is considered a drug and as such the distribution, processing and importation of donor semen must be conducted as per all applicable sections of the Food and Drugs Act and the Semen Regulations. The Semen Regulations define assisted conception as a reproductive technique performed on a woman for the purpose of conception, using semen from a donor who is not her spouse or sexual partner.