24 Nov, 2006
NEW DELHI: Designer sperms haven't yet become
fashionable in India. Childless couples seeking
artificial insemination can't get celebrity
sperm or sperm of males of a specific height,
colour and IQ. But that doesn't prevent them
from asking about the donor’s
religion, caste or physical attributes.
A survey by TOI shows that the most often asked
question is about religion. Couples wish to
know the donor’s religion,
and given the sensitivities involved, doctors
usually tell and comply with requests. Couples
also wish to know the donor’s
caste, but this question isn’t
so frequent, and doctors claim they refuse to
entertain the query.
Given the obsession about fair complexion in
India, it’s not surprising
that some couples also want to know if the donor
is fair. Some ask about his height too. But
in these cases, claim doctors, the couples are
counselled — for instance,
they’re told a fair complexioned
child would not match parents who are dark;
or a very tall child might be inapproriate for
couples who are short.
According to Apollo doctors around 25% ask about
the donor’s caste, while
Cryogenie puts the figure at 10%, and Sir Gangaram
Hospital claims none ask the question. Questions
on the donor’s religion are
more common, doctors say, but for recipients
it is often the physical attributes of the unknown
donor that matter the most.
Apollo says around 60% of the couples ask about
the donor’s religion, while
Cryogenie places the figure at 50% and Fortis
claims none do.
