Society

Over 150 women in Japan bought from sperm bank amid lack of rules

Nov 19 (Japan Times) - More than 150 women in Japan have made use of a major Denmark-based sperm bank amid an absence of rules on business transactions related to sperm and ova, the company said Tuesday.

Cryos International, the world's largest sperm bank with around 1,000 registered donors, launched consultation services in Japan in February 2019 aiming to expand its local operation.

It has since provided sperm to individuals in 30 of the country's 47 prefectures, including single women, sexual minorities and women whose husbands are infertile, the company said.

Japan, which has a dwindling birthrate and an aging population, has put off discussions on setting rules for the sale and purchase of sperm and ova.

The House of Councillors on Tuesday began deliberating on a bill related to auxiliary reproductive medicine using sperm and ova donated by third parties, but it has postponed discussions on commercial transactions.

The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology does not allow its members to engage in sperm transactions for profit.

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