Sperm shortages, shady Facebook groups, and other intimate stories of modern donor conception

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges and complexities surrounding donor-sperm conception in Australia, highlighting personal stories and expert insights.

Donor-sperm conception has become even more difficult in Australia. Would-be parents are now facing a shortage of sperm. That's on top of an already complex end confusing process. For solo parents, queer couples, and people navigating fertility the path to parenthood often begins with long clinic waitlists, overseas donor profiles, shady Facebook groups or delicate conversations with friends. Presented by Sydney Opera House at the All About Women Festival 2026 Speakers Alisha Burns Founder of Solo Mum Society, host of the No Need for Prince Charming podcast, author of the children's book My Perfect Family Maeve Marsden Writer, Creative Director of Varuna, the National Writers' House, and the Blue Mountains Writers' Festival Dr Melanie Saward Bigambul and Wakka Wakka woman, writer, editor and lecturer of Australian Studies, University of Queensland Edwina Storie (host)Journalist and the lead for The Feed, SBS's youth media brand

People in this episode

Host: Edwina Storie

Guests: Alisha Burns, Maeve Marsden, Dr Melanie Saward

Topics covered

• donor conception
• sperm shortage
• fertility
• parenthood
• queer couples
• solo parents

Keywords

• sperm donation
• fertility challenges
• queer parenting
• solo motherhood
• Facebook groups
• clinic waitlists

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sydney Opera House, Solo Mum Society, Varuna, University of Queensland, SBS

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