A large number of infertile couples are turning to the black market for sperm donations to due to major shortages in hospitals.
Donors make offers in front of a hospital gate
Private sperm brokers
Unlicensed sperm trading is becoming a new trend at private clinics.
These facilities look like normal houses but their interiors are cramped full of equipment and people awaiting for their turn for consultancy. The clinic here only has one doctor and one nurse. The owner is a doctor at Hanoi Maternity Hospital so the clinic only opens from 7-10 am because of the doctor’s full time work in the public health sector.
"We married for three years but we still can't have babies." a patient shared, "People told me to come here and the doctor diagnosed my husband as having weak sperm. We paid VND10 million (USD480) for the sperm and VND5 million (USD240) more for onsite insemination. An associate of mine was successfully inseminated here so I decided to try out. It's been two week since then and I'm awaiting a pregnancy test. I hope I'm pregnant."
However, another customer nearby sadly said, "I asked my husband to come to the fertility hospital but was afraid, so this clinic is our hope. The doctor said they would take care of everything, I don't have to do any trading myself. Also, I heard the success rate is 30% so we used half of the offered sperm and preserved the rest if we want more kids later. I had an insemination procedure a month ago but there’s no sign I’m pregnant yet."
Trading sperm on internet
Unable to trust brokers at private clinics, many couples seek out sperm trading website to do the business themselves. And the sperm market on internet has dramatically boomed.
Google displayed 801,000 results for the key words "sperm trading" in 0.53 seconds. There are many kinds of advertisements, mostly from males aged between 20-37.
Some are those advertising claim they are tall and healthy with high quality sperm. Others are altruistic married gentlemen want to help out couples in difficulties without wanting anything in return.
The advertisements are short, and focus on the donors' looks and health, the transaction forms are said to be simple and fast with room for bargaining. All this can be done with just one click.
A couple said they heard many people complain of the shortage of sperm in the hospitals so they decided to seek help on the internet. "In just four days, I received dozens of offers. They all made very bold boasts." the husband said.
After consideration, the couple decided to meet with a young man name K. he is 23, tall, with a degree and single. K. advertised that "I'm young so the goods are also in great condition," he currently charges VND16 million (USD766).
Explaining why he wants to be a donor, K said he need money to pay debts he’d racked up due to his fast paced lifestyle. If everyone agrees then the wife and K will pretend to be a married couple and they will go to hospital for insemination.
"I know this is quite dangerous but we are married for five years without any child. We really want one. I'll go to hospital in the next two days, I hope all will go well." the couple shared.