A controversial new reality show has launched in the US which features a woman choosing a man to father her child from a group of 15 strangers.

Labor of Love - hosted by Sex and the City star Kristin Davis - follows a format akin to The Bachelor, with the group of men being gradually whittled down over the course of the series.

At the centre of the show is Kirsty Katzmann, a 41-year-old divorcee who is keen to skip a lengthy romance and instead find a suitable sperm donor to provide her with her first child.

The 15 male candidates must work hard to impress Kirsty with their personality and good looks and will also be required to have their sperm analysed to ensure that they are a suitable match.

"It might sound like a total dream to date 15 incredible men at once but it's actually super overwhelming," she said. "I think it really requires you to stand in your own presence and really know what you want."

Davis added: "There are so many choices now, for men and women, in terms of how they become parents and what their family might look like. I am proud that our show can examine these very real options and hopefully allow the audience to think and discuss their own thoughts about the many shapes a family can take."

Labor of Love premiered in the US on FOX last night.