Inside Australia’s chaotic sperm marketplace: women compete for top donors

In Australia, a donor sperm market described as chaotic by many users has become a high-stakes arena for solo mothers and couples facing male infertility. A special investigation by Bek Day examines how women navigate donor selection, the pressure to find donors who resemble them, and the regulatory and supply limits that shape those choices.

Brittany Bennett and her husband Luke McLeod learned Luke's sperm count was effectively zero during fertility testing. Bennett told Daily Mail the donor system is 'completely shocking and chaotic' and she wanted a donor who was genetically compatible and shared physical features. 'I wanted to try to find a donor who was genetically compatible with me, and also someone who had similar physical features,' she said. The couple faced a clinic that warned there was 'no chance to be picky' and told them they’d be added to a list while new donors were added weekly. Bennett expected perhaps hundreds of options; instead, they were told there were only three. Three ethnicities were represented, she says. 'If you see an option you want, click on it as fast as you can, because everyone else will as well.' The sense of competition contrasted sharply with Bennett's desire to choose for her child's future.

The investigation notes that for many, the drive to select a donor extends beyond looks to genetics and the potential long-term well-being of the child. Bennett says the tension was compounded by the need to move quickly, a pressure she describes as antithetical to careful decision-making about a child's DNA.

Speaking to the investigation, Bennett said the process felt more like a sale than a careful family decision. 'That’s how I buy concert tickets. It’s not how I choose my child’s DNA,' she said. After the couple’s experience with the clinic, they pivoted to a known donor: Luke's brother. They are now expecting a baby girl. 'It’s the best outcome for us, and we’re so happy with the way it’s gone,' Bennett said. 'As amazing as IVF clinics are, I do think that the donor system needs some serious work.'

Donor demand in Australia has been rising. Research from Virtus Health shows that up to half of donor-sperm demand comes from single women, with 35 percent from same-sex couples and 15 percent from couples trying to overcome male infertility. Vanessa Ferguson, CEO of Adora Fertility, says the country has long faced a shortage of donors, a challenge amplified by what she calls a strict regulatory landscape. 'The challenge in Australia is to find donors who are prepared to adhere to Australia’s strict rules and regulations around sperm donation,' Ferguson said. She added that the number of donor cycles has risen, and she expects a sharp increase in donor patients at Adora Fertility, noting that donor recruitment costs are high and vary by state. In Australia, sperm donation is altruistic, meaning there is no financial incentive for men to donate.

The regulatory framework also affects donor anonymity and the rights of donor-conceived children. Anonymous donation is prohibited in many states, and donor-conceived children have the right to know the identity of their biological father when they reach 18. This requirement creates further barriers for potential donors and complicates the choice process for would-be parents. Regulations on how many families a single donor can assist vary by state, a policy intended to prevent prolific donation but which also reduces the pool of available donors when demand is high.

Victorian solo mum Alisha Burns, who runs Solo Mum Society, says the shortage is a major hurdle for people wanting to start families. Burns, who became a solo mother five years ago, notes that the process across Australia has shifted from a broader set of donor options to a more constrained search for someone who shares ethnicity with the mother. 'I don’t see this as discrimination,' she says. 'It’s about helping donor-conceived children feel they belong.' Burns warns that counseling and ethical considerations must accompany any discussion of race and ethnicity in donor selection. If a donor from a different ethnic background is chosen, families face additional cultural and educational considerations to ensure a child’s sense of belonging.

For some Australians, the shortage means turning to overseas or non-local donors. Forty-two-year-old Natalie, a Sydney woman who recently welcomed a daughter conceived with donor sperm from America, describes the Australian system as tricky. She began her journey with a Sydney clinic that sent out weekly donor lists, only to find the top options snapped up before she could respond. 'In NSW at least, there is a real shortage of donors,' Natalie said. Her decision to work with a Seattle-based clinic included a donor profile that went beyond looks: she listened to audio recordings of donors describing their interests and life experiences. 'Most of all, he sounded kind. You want to be able to stand by your choice when your child is an adult,' she said. Natalie ultimately chose a donor based on the audio profile rather than photographs alone.

The right of donor-conceived children to know their biological origins has intensified the search for donors who are willing to disclose identifying information when the child reaches 18. Ferguson argues that a centralized donor register in Australia and more uniform national legislation would help balance donor availability with family limits and the rights of offspring. 'A federal legislation with a consistent family limit across all of Australia would allow a donor to be accessed in all states,' she said. 'This would help address the current concern of too many families using the same donor within a single state.' Burns also emphasizes the broader social good of increased donor participation, noting that more men willing to donate could transform lives for solo mothers and couples facing infertility.

The stories behind the quest for a donor reflect a broader health issue: access to reproductive care and the emotional consequences of shortages. For some families, the search for the right donor is not a purchase but a deeply personal decision with long-term implications for children who will grow up with a shared genetic story. Advocates say reforms could ease the process without compromising safety, ethics or the rights of donor-conceived individuals.

In the meantime, clinics and patient groups alike are calling for clearer information about donor availability, more transparent profiles, and a system that remains respectful of the profound hopes and fears of people seeking to grow their families. As solo parents by choice and couples continue to navigate the donor landscape, the overall health of Australia’s donor program will hinge on balancing demand with a robust, ethically sound supply network. The overarching message from patients, clinicians and advocates is clear: the donor system works best when it treats donor-recipient pairs as families-in-waiting, not as market participants in a high-speed race to the fastest match.