A SCOTTISH IVF clinic has been forced to close its doors to new patients because it has run out of sperm.

The clinic at the Aberdeen Maternity Hospital - one of only five in the country - has shut down because of a national lack of sperm donors.

Fertility treatment in Scotland has been plunged into crisis because new government rules means sperm donors can no longer be anonymous.

The clinic sent out letters to patients - some of whom were halfway through a course - to tell them they have to go back on another city's waiting list.

The clinic's spokeswoman, Sandra Kant, said: "It's just impossible to buy sperm - we've tried every unit in the country.

"Our patients are so upset; it's bad enough to go on a waiting list, but the ones already receiving treatment are devastated.

"It's also really hard for staff to have to withdraw a service that's been here for two decades. I hope supplies will improve but, to be honest, I'm very nervous about the future."

On 1 April, the law in the UK changed so that IVF children could go to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and find out who their father is.

Sperm donors were no longer guaranteed anonymity, and now there is only one active donor in the whole of Scotland.

Couples are now facing waits of up to five years for treatment and many are being forced to travel abroad for treatment.

The Aberdeen clinic has now sent letters to all its patients telling them it can no longer offer treatment and could not say if and when it might reopen.