A retired teacher claims that he is the most prolific sperm donor in the world after fathering 129 children and nine more babies who will be born this year, totaling 138 kids.
Clive Jones, 66 years old, has been a sperm donor for nearly a decade, but he doesn't have ties with official sperm banks. Instead, he conducts the arrangements from his van in Derby in the U.K. after closing deals on Facebook. He said he plans to donate for a few more years until he has fathered 150 kids.
Jones claims that he's not charging anything for his sperm donations except perhaps to ask people for gas money. He also said he does not need the extra cash because he has enough as a retired teacher.
An Overwhelming Demand for Sperm Donors
However, U.K. fertility doctors, including the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, have issued a warning against Jones because legal sperm donors should be treated and vetted at a licensed fertility clinic. Sperm banks in the U.K. also have a sperm donor age limit of 45 years old.
A spokesperson for the fertilization agency said that sperm donation outside of a clinic environment could pose medical and legal risks. Licensed clinics also conduct rigorous tests to determine the donors' medical history and potential hereditary illnesses.
Jones defended his activities by stating that many fertility clinics and sperm banks charge astronomical prices for semen samples instead of donating these to families in need. He also claimed that there is an overwhelming demand for sperm donors in the unregulated market.
"I think people would understand more if they saw the messages I get and the photos of the babies with very happy mothers," Jones said in his interview with DerbyshireLive.
As a dad of three grown-up children himself, Jones said that he understands people who regard kids as the most important goal in their lives. After reading a story about would-be parents desperate for a baby who make their arrangements on Facebook, he tapped into the underworld market.
Nine years ago, he tried to post an offer to help people who could not have children and received a message from a local woman within an hour. However, Jones said that he has not advertised as a sperm donor in years and has simply made arrangements through referrals.
Meeting His "Babies"
In 2018, Jones said through a documentary program about unregulated sperm donations; he has met some of his "babies" in person since they live near Derby. He also admitted that his wife since 1978 is not happy he's a sperm donor. They now live apart despite remaining married.
Jones also explained in the documentary that he needs the van to drive close to where the would-be parents live. He said many people who ask for his help are same-sex couples.
The couple then informs him if the woman is ovulating, so he has cups and syringes prepared in his van to hand out his fresh specimen. From there, it's up to the couples to do what they please with the sperm donation.
Jones said that he had a hectic year during the pandemic and donated an average of five specimens a week. From these sperm donations, about one in eight ends up in a full-term pregnancy.
