Examining regional trends

Demand for America’s most intimate raw materials

No matter where you are in the U.S., it’s almost impossible to avoid signs of a manufacturing renaissance. We’re seeing machinery rebound in the rustbelt, shale drilling flourish across the Texas-Oklahoma energy belt and seminal vesicles prosper below the American male belt.

Thanks to exceptional cryobank systems and a donor pool stimulated by liberal legislation, the demand for sperm produced in the U.S. is at an all-time high. Growing by as much as 40% over the last five years, the industry is expected to reach $4.3 billion by 2013.

Last year, California Cryobank, the world’s largest full-service sperm bank, delivered to nearly 60 American-sperm-seeking nations, including the UK, Canada, France, Israel, Australia, Chile, Spain and Sweden.

Many of these countries face shortages and strict limits on how many women can be inseminated by the same donor. In the U.S., however, there is no cap and men receive up to $500 for every donation. Now before you go running to the nearest cryobank, know that approval of one’s goods for production is far from guaranteed.

On top of rigorous medical tests and screenings, a potential donor’s education, height and family history are carefully evaluated. “We joke that it’s easier to get into Harvard than to get accepted in our program,” says Scott Brown, head of communications at California Cryobank.

While the jury is still out on the impact of this boom in the grand scheme of American manufacturing, there shouldn’t be much debate about the $500 I just invested.