Donors may be given more cash for their sperm or eggs

A public consultation exercise, launched today, is asking for views on whether those giving sperm and eggs should get more money for their time and effort.

In countries such as Spain, egg donors can receive more than 700, whereas in the UK compensation is limited to much smaller amounts.

The consultation, by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), also asks for views on whether more families could be created by a donor, increasing the current number from ten, and whether there needs to be a ban on close family members donating to each other.

The number of children born following treatment with donated sperm has fallen from 1,670 in 1998 to 977 in 2008, according to the most recent figures.

Currently in the UK donors can receive up to 250 for loss of earnings when making their donations, as well as reasonable expenses for items such as travel costs.

The HFEA is seeking people's views on whether an "inconvenience" payment could also be made for donors, as in other European countries.

In Spain, for example, egg donors are compensated up to 765, while sperm donors get 40 per valid sample they produce.

This fee includes compensation for loss of earnings, expenses and inconvenience.

The HFEA said care would have to be taken to ensure sperm and egg donation is not seen as a money-earner.

But it said that feedback from fertility clinics suggested that some donors ended up out of pocket, while they also said the system for compensation was far too complex.

Another move discussed in the consultation is whether there should be a change to the current limit on the number of families one donor's eggs or sperm can be used to create.

At present, this is limited to ten to minimise the chances of an accidental incestuous relationship between two children from the same donor.

The consultation will also consider egg and sperm donations between family members.

There have been several cases of donations between sisters, cousins and brothers to allow a relative to have a child. But there are now also cases of mother to daughter and father to son donations.

"Donation of this kind can raise some social and ethical issues, such as unusual genetic and social relationships," the HFEA said.

"For example, if a woman donates an eggs to her sister she will be the genetic mother and social aunt of any child born as a result."

Another issue potentially of more concern is donations between relatives of a different sex, such as brother to sister - those who would be banned from having sex with each other.

The HFEA said there had been no cases of this happening yet, but there was nothing in law to prevent it. The consultation will consider whether a ban on such mixing needs to be put in place.Professor Lisa Jardine, who chairs the HFEA, said: "We want to ensure that we have the best policies in place so that there are no unnecessary barriers in the way of those wishing to donate, while protecting those who are born as a result of donation."

People can take part in the consultation by filling in questionnaires on the HFEA website, http://www.hfea.gov.uk.