Facebook regularly offers up a request from a bank. To be specific, it is a sperm bank. Yes, that’s right, the Facebook algorithm has decided, in its wisdom, to repeatedly offer me the chance to make money hand over fist. Ahem!

Leaving aside the jokes, remarks, and the snickering from those in the back row (you know who you are), there are some intriguing considerations here. It is sadly true that some couples struggle to conceive. Depending upon a variety of tests to ensure good, um, produce, it is possible my little tadpoles could provide someone, somewhere, with the gift of starting a family. There is also the financial consideration, because donating my seed is something I would be paid for.

The biggest problem with this particular sperm bank is that they require a commitment to travelling into London, possibly twice a week, for a period of three-to-six months. Even once a week for three months (12 weeks altogether) would equate to spending £285 on train fare. If I were going twice a week, this cost rises to £570. There is the possibility of making £420 a month, in which case I’d be bringing in £1,260, but there’s still another consideration: time. The journey time each way is about an hour (and that is station-to-station, I have no idea as to where this bank is in relation to the station). So, conservatively, I am looking at two hours a day spent travelling, and all of this comes (there is a pun here, crying out to be made) with no guarantee that my swimmers would earn me any cash!

After all, I can make up to £420, but this is by no means certain. The income is probably dependent upon how many trips I make, but the sperm bank has expectations about the number of visits. I can’t just nip in as and when I feel like it.

With all of that to ponder, there are other elements to weigh up. A sperm donor is not expected to play an active part in the lives of any children his sperm should help make, and indeed, has no rights in that regard. Everything is anonymous, until the child reaches the age of 16, whereupon they can learn non-identifying information about the donor (they may wish to know of genetic history, the potential for any conditions etc). At the age of 18, they can legally request identifying information, though the donor is informed about any such requests. From there, it would up to both parties to agree to make and maintain contact. I will confess that I have no idea how I would feel in such circumstances. I mean, if some random guy or lady showed up and proclaimed me to be their biological father, I might be a bit staggered, albeit maybe curious to understand their life?

At this precise moment, I am not at all certain I am ready to become a sperm donor, largely due to the travel and time constraints, though to be fair, if I could make a difference for a couple desperately trying to conceive, and bring them that joy… well, it almost starts to feel like an obligation, a duty if you will. Let’s be honest, there are worse ways to make people happy, and worse ways to make money!