DEEP DIVE: Searching for sperm in a donor 'drought'
Australia's 'sperm drought' is prompting people to look online to find a donor. Rather than spend years on a fertility clinic's waiting list, people are increasingly turning to social media and dating-style apps to find a match. But what are the risks of finding a donor online? How can you be sure of their health history (and how many times they're donating)? And, as more single women chose to solo-parent, does something need to change to make legitimate pathways more accessible? In this week's deep dive, we hear from the people donating and looking for sperm online, and find out what's driving Australia's donor shortage. Guests: Dr Lynn Burmeister, fertility specialist Alisha Burns, founder of The Solo Mum Society Get the whole story from hack: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm
An episode of the Hack podcast, hosted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, titled "DEEP DIVE: Searching for sperm in a donor 'drought'" was published on April 17, 2026 and runs 15 minutes.
April 17, 2026 ·15m · Hack
Summary
Australia's 'sperm drought' is prompting people to look online to find a donor. Rather than spend years on a fertility clinic's waiting list, people are increasingly turning to social media and dating-style apps to find a match. But what are the risks of finding a donor online? How can you be sure of their health history (and how many times they're donating)? And, as more single women chose to solo-parent, does something need to change to make legitimate pathways more accessible? In this week's deep dive, we hear from the people donating and looking for sperm online, and find out what's driving Australia's donor shortage. Guests: Dr Lynn Burmeister, fertility specialist Alisha Burns, founder of The Solo Mum Society Get the whole story from hack: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm
Episode Description
Australia's 'sperm drought' is prompting people to look online to find a donor.
Rather than spend years on a fertility clinic's waiting list, people are increasingly turning to social media and dating-style apps to find a match.
But what are the risks of finding a donor online? How can you be sure of their health history (and how many times they're donating)?
And, as more single women chose to solo-parent, does something need to change to make legitimate pathways more accessible?
In this week's deep dive, we hear from the people donating and looking for sperm online, and find out what's driving Australia's donor shortage.
Guests:
- Dr Lynn Burmeister, fertility specialist
- Alisha Burns, founder of The Solo Mum Society
Get the whole story from hack:
- Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
- Subscribe to the hack podcast
- Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm
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