World’s first sperm bank open for HIV-positive donors

Damien Rule-Neal is one of the first HIV-positive men to donate to the new sperm bank (Photo: Supplied)

The world’s first sperm bank for HIV-positive donors has opened in New Zealand. The initiative was launched in conjunction with New Zealand Aids Foundation, Positive Women Inc and Body Positive.

Besides offering sperm for fertility treatment, the organizations, launching the initiative ahead of World AIDS Day yesterday (December, 1), also want to educate people about HIV treatment and challenge stigma.

Related: 28% of millennials say they wouldn’t hug or be friends with someone who is HIV-positive

When HIV positive people achieve a consistently undetectable viral load on HIV medication, they cannot pass on the virus through sex or childbirth.

The sperm bank has so far got three donors. One of them, Damien Rule-Neal, spoke to Radio New Zealand. He was diagnosed in 1999 at the age of 26 and been on treatment for the past 18 years. He became undetectable shortly after starting treatment.

He says that despite this he has experienced tremendous stigma around the virus, which included being “bullied” out of one job.

Already a father to two children, he said: “I have many friends who are also living with HIV who’ve gone on to have children.

“Being able to help others on their journey is so rewarding, but I also want to show the world that life doesn’t stop post-diagnosis and help to remove the stigma.”

The sperm bank, simply called Sperm Positive, will make it clear to anyone seeking a donor that all of its donors are HIV positive but cannot pass on the virus….

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