A sperm donor dubbed ‘Britain’s most prolific dad’ has revealed he has fathered 170 children.
Joe Donor – who has chosen not to reveal his surname – has spent the last 13 years helping couples have babies.
The 52-year-old uses methods including natural insemination (sex), partial insemination (getting himself close to ejaculation via masturbation, before ejaculating in the recipient), and artificial insemination.
He even ships his “baby batter” across the country in insulated packaging in his bid to help impregnate all the women who request his sperm.
But, while he’s thrilled to have helped father so many little ones, Joe says the journey has been a lonely one.
“While many women want my child, it means being available at all times – and it’s a rare woman who will accept that in a romantic relationship,” Joe, who lives near Newcastle in the UK, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“I don’t have a partner at the moment.
“I am hoping I will, one day, meet that special someone who can accept me for who I am – someone who wants to have children and can accept my scores of children I already have.”
Joe said most of the women he has dated have originally approached him to donate sperm – something he dubs “reverse dating” because they have already had sex.
But, he says women always want him to give up his hobby.
He added: “One lady said ‘Can’t you just donate blood like everyone else’.
“I think if I did meet the right lady, I would give up helping new recipients – but I would want to give additional siblings to anyone I helped previously.”
Despite finding his occupation “lonely” at times, Joe insists he’ll never stop.
He said: “I won’t retire until the bitter end – or if that unicorn woman sweeps me off my feet.
“I don’t have a goal [number of children to have], I will just keep going until I keel over.”
Joe doesn’t offer sperm donations for financial profit and says it can even leave him at a loss.
He said: “It’s a struggle to make ends meet.
“I am lucky if I am reimbursed expenses and able to break even, but it’s worth it every time I see the joy when another mini me is born.
“The happy faces of my children and their mothers [motivates me].”
As for his process? Joe is willing to follow whatever route the recipient chooses.
He explained: “I donate by AI (artificial insemination), PI (partial insemination) and NI (natural insemination).
“NI is the old-fashioned method – sex.
“PI is a modified form of NI in which there is less intimacy, where only the essentials necessary for pregnancy, occur.
“For example, there may be no foreplay, no kissing, the woman may not get undressed, and the man finishes as rapidly as possible.
“AI is done via shipping. Typically, AI is done in person, however, I can send the baby batter by overnight courier in a special shipping kit, which we call shipping.
“It’s insulated and chilled to lower metabolism and extended to protect the sperm so that they can arrive 24 hours later and still achieve pregnancy.
“I check quality with a microscope by keeping a small test sample packaged in the same way until I see the shipment has arrived, then I look under the microscope to see if the test sample is still alive and in good condition.
“Scientific studies show that the old-fashioned method is most successful, but if someone prefers a syringe or shipped baby batter, I will do as the lady likes.
“Sometimes NI or PI can be awkward – for example, if someone has family members and pets in the house, or is in a hurry to get somewhere.
“I recommended focusing on conception for that day when someone is ovulating, by arranging for a friend, family or sitter to take care of pets and children, and to clear one’s schedule so there are no conflicts.
“To prepare [myself], I think of the lady’s charming point – everyone has one – and enjoy a special moment.”
Joe is also a father himself, with his eldest children in their 20s.
He added: “You don’t just become a top donor overnight – I’ve always wanted children and had quite a few before turning to donation.
“My children are happy to know that they will have additional siblings on the way.
“I try to keep in touch and be aware of where they are, in the hopes that one day they can all know one another.
“Statistically there is very little chance of them accidentally meeting because they are spread all over the world.
“But I encourage every mother to tell her children who their father is, in order to avoid doubts later in life.”
While he doesn’t let it stop him, Joe says he does often attract criticism of his work.
He said: “I often get negative comments from people who are jealous of my successes.
“It’s just part of freedom of speech though, where people can voice their opinions.
“As my mother always said, sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me.
“These comments say more about the insecurity of the person who voices them than they do about me.
“I am focused on the happiness of the women I have helped and their children – a few negative comments won’t change that.”
