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UK Military Wives Freezing Husbands' Sperm

More women planning for kids should husbands die in combat

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 17, 2008 7:35 PM CST
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(Newser) – More UK military wives are freezing their husbands' sperm before the men serve in the Middle East. One London fertility clinic expected interest from soldiers but was surprised by the "wives and girlfriends who want to have children should anything happen," a spokesman said. But servicemen must give consent before sperm storage, experts say, due to the high divorce rate among soldiers.

Military couples haven't planned for death in the past, according to a war widows group spokeswoman. "Certainly, soldiers don't think they are not going to survive and as a result often don't make very good provision, such as making a will," she said. But UK fertility clinics may be humming as Britain plans to send 1,000 troops to join NATO's Kosovo Force, the Guardian reports.

Growing numbers of wives of British soldiers are requesting to have their husbands' sperm frozen before they are deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq so they can still have children if their loved ones are killed in action, the Guardian says.
Growing numbers of wives of British soldiers are requesting to have their husbands' sperm frozen before they are deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq so they can still have children if their loved ones are...   (Index Stock)
Growing numbers of wives of British soldiers are requesting to have their husbands' sperm frozen before they are deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq so they can still have children if their loved ones are killed in action, the Guardian says.
Growing numbers of wives of British soldiers are requesting to have their husbands' sperm frozen before they are deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq so they can still have children if their loved ones are...   (Index Stock)
Tim Mott, a spokesman for the Bridge Centre fertility clinic in London, said: 'We had expected interest to stem from soldiers rather than their partners, but what has been most surprising is that most inquiries have come from wives and girlfriends who want to have children should anything happen.'
Tim Mott, a spokesman for the Bridge Centre fertility clinic in London, said: 'We had expected interest to stem from soldiers rather than their partners, but what has been most surprising is that most...   (Index Stock)
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Britain puts 600 troops on standby in case of Kosovo clashes
BBC

More UK clinics ruin sperm in 'adverse incidents'
Telegraph (UK)

 
fertility • sperm • United Kingdom • embryo • soldier • British military • fertility clinic • War Widows Association of Great Britain

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