Rush To Donate Sperm In India

By M. Saraswathi NEW DELHI (India), May 7 (Bernama) -- There is a sudden rush among youths in India to donate sperm, thanks to the movie "Vicky Donor" that took only 125 minutes to do something which years of consulting could not accomplish -- convincing educated youths to donate sperm. A Bollywood romantic comedy film directed by Shoojit Sircar, "Vicky Donor" is based on the concept of sperm donation and infertility. The movie was released on April 20 in about 750 screens in India and has been declared a "super hit". Before the film's release, sperm banks that put up stalls during talent evenings in medical, engineering and management institutes urging students to turn sperm donors and help a childless couple got little response. Post the release of 'Vicky Donor', youths are queuing up to do their bit at invitrofertilisation (IVF) centres and sperm banks, The Times of India reported. "The subject of sperm donation is no longer discussed in whispers. It is openly debated - an accepted option to help in a noble cause and earn some extra money," fertility expert Dr Himanshu Bavishi said. Sperm donors are offered anywhere between US$9.44 (Rs500) and Rs3,500 per sample depending upon their eligibility criteria and specific demands of couples. Guidelines permit a man to donate sperm 85 times in his lifetime. Experts, however, say sperm donation is more technical than is essayed in the movie. "The sample is taken and incubated for six-odd months. Tests for all infections are carried out to rule out infections like HIV. It is only after these formalities that the sample is used. Moreover, remuneration is also not all that handsome as the young may believe," said Bavishi. Pan Indian actor Siddharth has bought the dubbing rights of the film "Vicky Donor," and Tamil movie-goers may expect a remake of it. (US$1 = Rs52.96) --BERNAMA