Why single women are going to Denmark to become mothers
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 26 July 2023
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In the last few years, the UK has seen a 44 percent increase in single women seeking fertility treatment on their own. That means they need sperm - and many are looking towards Danish donors for it. So why is single motherhood - by choice - on the rise? And what is Denmark doing differently?
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Guests:
- Rachel Sylvester, Chair of the Times Health Commission, Columnist and Interviewer, The Times.
- Liv Thorne, Author, Liv's Alone: Amateur Adventures in Solo Motherhood.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Clips: CBS News, BBC.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We don't know how you're doing. We don't know how you're doing. |
| 0:04.0 | You don't have to be alone to feel alone and you never know how someone is doing until you ask. |
| 0:10.0 | We don't know how you're doing. We don't know how you're doing. |
| 0:13.0 | We're calm. Join us to show anyone who's struggling that there's always someone on their side. |
| 0:18.0 | So you'll be hearing more of this. |
| 0:24.0 | To find out how we can all tackle it together, search for campaign against living miserably. |
| 0:31.0 | In 1978, the first baby conceived through IVF in vitro fertilization was born at Oldham General Hospital in Lancashire. |
| 0:50.0 | Good evening, a beautiful, normal girl. |
| 0:53.0 | It's the first known baby conceived outside its mother's womb. |
| 0:58.0 | This unique medical event has been shrouded in secrecy from the start. |
| 1:02.0 | Although Mrs Brown arrived at Oldham General Hospital eight weeks ago to prepare for the birth, |
| 1:07.0 | it was over a month before anyone outside knew. |
| 1:13.0 | That breakthrough by British scientists allowed millions of people around the world to have babies when they otherwise couldn't. |
| 1:23.0 | And it's not just couples. In the last few years, there's been a 44% rise in single women seeking treatment to get pregnant alone. |
| 1:33.0 | But the sperm they're using isn't coming from British men. |
| 1:38.0 | In 2020, over half of all donated sperm came from abroad and much of that from Denmark, where the country's clinics have become a haven for fertility tourism. |
| 1:53.0 | The staff speak 14 languages to deal with international clients. |
| 2:07.0 | So why is single motherhood by choice on the rise? |
| 2:12.0 | And why are women choosing Danish donors over the breads? |
| 2:16.0 | You're listening to stories of our times from the times and the Sunday times. |
| 2:21.0 | I'm Manvin Rana. Today, why single women are going to Denmark to become mothers? |
| 2:38.0 | I'm Rachel Sovester and I'm a columnist at the Times in an interviewer and I'm currently chairing the Times Health Commission, |
... |
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