Childless Asian couples are facing long and often futile waits for egg and sperm donors.

Leicester Royal Infirmary's assisted-conception unit said 12 women are on the egg donor waiting list, with an average wait of six to nine months.

However, due to lack of donors from the Asian community, Asian couples are unlikely to ever have treatment.

Just one such donor has come forward since the egg donation scheme began in 2004. Sperm donation is also rare.

The unit's Mo Thomas said: "We have five Asian women on our waiting list for egg donors, but it could be many more.

"We have stopped adding Asian women to the waiting list because of the lack of donors. It is unfair to give them that hope, which we can't then deliver on.

"Instead, we keep in touch so we can let them know if the situation has changed.

"There are many reasons why Asian women and men may not come forward to donate.

"It can be related to religious beliefs, or disapproval from their communities. The new law, which allows children to trace donors, has also affected the numbers of sperm donors.

"With Caucasian recipients, we can often match hair, eye colour and other physical characteristics to the parents, but with Asian sperm, we do struggle to provide the same level of choice because it is so rare."

Ms Thomas said egg donation can be the only option for women unable to produce their own eggs.

It may be because they have gone through the menopause early – as young as their early 20s. Other patients have undergone treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which have left them infertile.

Sperm donation can be the only option for men who have become infertile due to treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The assisted conception unit can be contacted on 0116 258 5922.