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Sperm Donor, 72, Has No Plans To Retire After Fathering Dozens Of Children

Sperm Donor, 72, Has No Plans To Retire After Fathering Dozens Of Children

John Lindsay Mayger estimates he's fathered around 50 children over the years

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

An Aussie sperm donor who claims to have fathered around 50 kids has said he has no plans to 'retire' despite turning 72.

John Lindsay Mayger, from Sydney, started donating sperm all the way back in 1978 after his wife suffered two miscarriages and they felt first-hand the pain of those those who struggle to have children.

John Lindsay Mayger

Speaking to The Daily Mail, Mayger said: "I was traumatised by the two miscarriages and I could start to understand how people who couldn't have children would feel."

He doesn't know how many kids he fathered via his donations to IVF clinics in 1978 and 1979 but reckons it could be around 24.

Meanwhile, Mayger and his wife went on to have four kids and, when his marriage ended in 2003, he attempted to donate again, but was told he was too old.

However, Mayger didn't let that stop him. He began to place adverts in LGBTQ magazines offering his sperm to lesbian couples, and claims that since then he's helped plenty of people.

John Lindsay Mayger

As he's retired, Mayger is able to travel out to those who need his sperm if necessary.

He added: "Some people fish, some golf... I masturbate."

He's fathered 21 children via his donations, that he knows about, not including those from the clinics in the 1970s.

He has relationships with many of his donor children who range in age from three to 17.

The women who have had kids by Mayger keep in touch via a Facebook group - of which he isn't a member - and some of the children have even met up with their biological siblings.

John Lindsay Mayger

Opening up about why he donates, he said: "Some reasons are spiritual, some are carnal.

"I am a blood donor so donating is in my psyche. Also, I am a Christian. And I could empathise with people who couldn't have children after losing two children.

"It is a big ego trip to spread your seed.

"I get a lot of pleasure when I interact with them and they call me dad."

John Lindsay Mayger

He added: "I believe it is a woman's right to have a child if she wants one, so she should be facilitated by kind men to become a mother if that is what she wants to be."

Featured Image Credit: John Lindsay Mayger

Topics: Interesting, Australia