Sperm bank spurns potential redhead donors

Cryos International, one of the world's largest sperm banks is refusing potential donors who have red hair. The bank's director told the Danish newspaper Ekstrabladet that there simply wasn't much demand for sperm from red-headed men.

“I do not think you chose a redhead, unless the partner - for example, the sterile male - has red hair, or because the lone woman has a preference for redheads,” Ole Schou, director of Cryos International, told the Danish paper. “And that's perhaps not so many, especially in the latter case.” Cryos has strong demand for sperm from red-headed men only from Ireland, according to Schou. Ten percent of the Irish population has red hair, according to the website of KQED. That's compared to 2 percent to 6 percent of the U.S. population.

Schou said the bank can afford to be picky, because it has a waiting list of 600 guys who are ready to give donation their best shot - and because the bank has reached its capacity of 70 liters of semen. Men typically ejaculate 2 to 6 milliliters each time.

According to Schou, it's guys with brown hair and brown eyes that most recipients are looking for. Dr. Cappy Rothman, medical director of the California Cryobank sperm bank said that the ideal sperm donor stands six feet tall and has blond or brown hair, blue or green eyes and a “medium” complexion.  Indian sperm is also reportedly in high demand and short supply because sperm is not allowed to be legally exported outside of India.

Cryos pays donors up to $500 (£316), and sends its semen to over 65 countries worldwide.

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2018, August 23). Sperm bank spurns potential redhead donors. News-Medical. Retrieved on November 04, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110920/Sperm-bank-spurns-potential-redhead-donors.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "Sperm bank spurns potential redhead donors". News-Medical. 04 November 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110920/Sperm-bank-spurns-potential-redhead-donors.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "Sperm bank spurns potential redhead donors". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110920/Sperm-bank-spurns-potential-redhead-donors.aspx. (accessed November 04, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2018. Sperm bank spurns potential redhead donors. News-Medical, viewed 04 November 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110920/Sperm-bank-spurns-potential-redhead-donors.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Study reveals why paternal mitochondria must be removed during early development