Does the removal of anonymity reduce sperm donors in Australia?

The National Health and Medical Research Council's guidelines implemented in 2005 removed a sperm donor's ability to remain anonymous in every Australian State except Victoria, which had removed anonymity completely by 1998. To assess the impact of these changes on sperm donor numbers in Australia, Assisted Reproductive Technology clinics were surveyed to obtain sperm donation figures between 2000 and 2012, with additional data collected from State-based oversight groups. There was an increase in total sperm donor numbers over the study period, including the year anonymity was removed as well as the non-anonymous period. Variations in total donor numbers and numbers of new recruits observed during the period could not be attributed to any specific change in policy or practice. As total sperm donor numbers have been increasing, the removal of a donor's ability to remain anonymous has not been detrimental to the availability of sperm donors in Australia.