Mumbai, Sep 22 (IANS) Thousands of couples facing the infertility problem may now take heart! A Denmark headquartered company Monday set up a sperm bank in Mumbai that is expected to provide viable alternatives to start a family.“Clinical data estimates that almost 12 percent of Indian couples suffer from some form of infertility, and quality sperm banks can provide safe and viable alternative for them to start a family”, said Pushpa Mitra Bhargava, member of the Committee on Assisted Reproduction Clinics of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), after inaugurating the bank.

Cryos International India will offer its expertise in donor semen, patient deposits and other semen related clinical products at its state-of-the-art facility in Mulund.

Ole Schou, Founder of the Cryos International, Denmark, said: “Globally, sperm banking is no longer a solution only for the infertile couples. Couples or individual men choose to freeze their sperms for various reasons that could be related to their lifestyle, medical conditions or simply a matter of choice.”

Managing Director of Cryos International India Dilip Patil said there is growing awareness and acceptability of Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) and the demand for independent, quality sperm and egg banks in India is also growing.

Officials said the new bank adheres to both national and international standards. India has already a couple of sperm banks including one from the Apollo Hospitals group.

Cryos is currently present in 60 countries across the world.