Table 2 Participants’ perceptions towards SD (mean score on 1–5 Likert scale)

A: General perceptions^a

 Sperm donation is one of the most noble actions a man can do for others⁺

80, 32.5%

86, 35%

42, 16.2%

25, 10.1%

15, 6.1%

2.2

1.1

 Sperm donation may have negative psychological impact on the offspring⁻

75, 30.6%

76, 31%

57, 23.2%

30, 12.2%

7, 2.8%

2.2

2.2

 Sperm donation decreases the risk for offspring illness compared to spouse pregnancy⁺

95, 39.2%

49, 20.2%

65, 26.8%

27, 11.1%

6, 2.4%

2.1

1.1

 Sperm donation impairs women desire for relationship and family with former sperm donor⁻

133, 54.7%

40, 16.4%

45, 18.5%

18, 7.4%

7, 2.8%

1.9

1.1

 Fertility treatments increases parents’ love for their children⁺

140, 58.3%

41, 17%

31, 12.9%

18, 7.5%

10, 4.1%

1.8

1.1

 Sperm donation contradicts my principles and/or faith⁻

201, 83%

21, 8.6%

13, 5.3%

4, 1.6%

3, 1.2%

1.3

0.7

 Parents love their children less if they are not genetically identical to them⁻

196, 81.3%

27, 11.2%

10, 4.1%

8, 3.3%

0

1.3

0.7

B: Sperm banks’ roles and activities

 Sperm bank is a medical institute—its role is to extremely expand medical investigation for sperm donors in order to minimize offspring’s medical risk although it may decrease donors’ supply

10, 3.9%

20, 7.9%

51, 20.2%

99, 39.2%

72, 8.5%

3.8

1

 Sperm bank is a commercial institute designed to sell sperm—it should perform minimal medical investigations (but still more than a romantic spouse) and supply wide range of sperm donors

124, 51.4%

61, 25.3%

32, 13.2%

22, 9.1%

2, 0.8%4

1.8

1

 Social factors (such as live birth limitation) should be considered even in case of impaired supply

36, 14.3%

32, 12.7%

56, 22.3%

81, 32.2%

46, 18.3%

3.3

1.2

 Religious factors should be considered during sperm donation

165, 67.6%

47, 19.2%

15, 6.1%

11, 4.1%

6, 2.4%

1.5

0.9

 Sperm donor selection by the patient should be performed according to medical considerations only (such as genetic matching)

57, 23%

70, 28.3%

62, 5.1%

39, 15.7%

19, 7.6%

2.6

1.2

 Sperm donor selection by the patient should be performed according to personal parameters (appearance, occupation, religiosity)

37, 14.8%

85, 34.1%

92, 36.9%

28, 11.2%

7, 2.8%

2.5

0.9

C: Identity disclosure vs. anonymity

 Donors’ anonymity preservation is crucial to maintain sperm donation

16, 6.3%

26, 10.3%

59, 23.4%

62, 24.6%

89, 35.3%

3.7

1.2

 Donors should be offered to choose between anonymous vs. extra paid identity disclosure donation

120, 48.9%

39, 15.9%

40, 16.3%

34, 13.8%

12, 4.9%

2.1

1.2

 Offspring are eligible to seek their half siblings only within sperm bank settings and donor’s consent

49, 19.9%

48, 19.5%

54, 21.9%

55, 22.3%

40, 16.2%1

3

1.3

 Offspring are eligible to seek their half siblings by social media without donor’s consent

69, 24.2%

84, 29.4%

49, 17.1%

43, 15%

40, 14%

2.8

1

 Offspring’s mothers are eligible to look for half siblings from the same sperm donor while maintaining his anonymity

80, 32.6%

36, 14.6%

45, 18.3%

49, 20%

35, 14.2%9

2.7

1.4

 Offspring are eligible to seek their sperm donor opposed to his consent and their mother’s obligation

143, 60.3%

58, 24.4%

17, 7.1%

10, 4.2%

9, 3.8%

1.7

1

 Offspring’s mothers are eligible to know donor’s identity although they have committed to maintain anonymity

174, 73.1%

38, 15.9%

14, 5.8%

4, 1.6%

8, 3.3%

1.5

0.9