Sperm donation
What is sperm donation
Sperm donation is a procedure in which a man donates the sperm to help an individual or a couple conceive.
Donated sperm can be injected into a woman’s reproductive organs (intrauterine insemination, IUI) or used to fertilise eggs in the laboratory (in vitro fertilisation, IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, ICSI).
Reasons for sperm donation
- The male partner has azoospermia (absence of sperm) or severe oligozoospermia (severely decreased sperm count) as result of acquired (for example, cancer therapy, surgery, accident, hormone therapy) or inherited conditions.
- The male partner is unable to ejaculate.
- The male partner has a underlying genetic (chromosomal) condition.
- The male partner has an untreatable sexually transmissible infection.
- Prior failure(s) to fertilise the eggs by ICSI.
- Single wishing, or same-sex female couple wishing to conceive.
Who can be a sperm donor?
- Sperm donors can be unknown or known. Unknown sperm donor can also be anonymous a or identified.
- Both anonymous and known donors undergo the same initial and screening testing process.
- Donors should be in good health with normal semen parameters.
- Donor should have no history to suggest hereditary disease and should undergo appropriate genetic assessment.
- Psychological evaluation and counselling by a qualified counsellor is strongly recommended for all sperm donors.
What are the screening tests done for the sperm donor?
- Thorough assessment of the medical and family history of the donors to minimise the risk of inherited disorders.
- Donors are tested for blood group, cytomegalovirus (CMV) status, and certain genetic disease(s) most common within specific ethnic background, for example cystic fibrosis, thalassaemia or sickle cell disease.
- Screening for infectious diseases is done to all donors including HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, and Chlamydia.
- The sperm will then need to be quarantined for six months prior to being used for treatment. The donors are required to be re-tested in six months because some diseases, such as HIV, can take up to six months to show positive in a blood test.
Sperm donation FAQS
The recipient as well as her partner, if appropriate, should both be evaluated prior to commencing treatment. The purpose would be to minimise adverse health effects to the recipient as well as the baby.
The recipient as well as her partner, if appropriate, should be screened for infectious diseases to rule out any legal or medical concern that may arise during or after treatment. Serologic test for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Rubella, CMV, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, and Chlamydia.
Depending on which country the treatment takes place, in case of unknown donor the sperm bank can offer the recipient access to identifying or non-identifying information, which the donor has supplied including physical characteristics (hair and eye colour, height, weight, build, skin colour), ethnicity, blood group, career and education.
Donor sperm is used to fertilise eggs, either by artificial insemination or in vitro fertilisation.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a treatment in which the sperm is injected directly into the uterus at or around the time of ovulation. The treatment can be done in a natural menstrual cycle or in a stimulated cycle using low doses of hormones.
IVF with donor sperm involves the insemination of the collected eggs with the donor sperm in the laboratory. The resulting embryo(s) is transferred to the uterus.
Success rates with donor sperm depend on various factors, including chronological age of the recipient, the type of treatment the recipient is having, previous obstetric histories, the quality of sperm, and the fertility potential assessed by a variety of tests done prior to starting the process of sperm donation.
Intended parents will benefit from having implication counselling, as continuing with treatment involving sperm donation is a multifaceted decision to make.
Counselling with a qualified fertility counsellor with knowledge in gamete donation is strongly recommended.
The assessment should include a clinical interview and, where appropriate, psychological assessment.
Issues commonly addressed:
- Challenges of unknown/anonymous and known donation
- Long-term impact on the family
- The limitations to donor screening
- The desired qualities of the donor and its implications
- Grief and loss
- Needs of donor-conceived child(ren)
- Future implications for the child(ren)
- Impact of possible treatment failure
In cases of known donation, the potential impact of the relationship between the donor and recipient should be explored, as well as any plans that may exist relating to disclosure and future contact.
Only frozen sperm can be purchased. Sperm is stored in straws and frozen.
Choose the sperm bank.
Start your donor search by filtering your personal preferences.
Find your favourite sperm donor (by reading their profiles).
Order and pay for the number of straws that you need, according to what has been recommended to you by the fertility consultant.
Arrange a reputable courier to transport your selected sperm from the bank to the centre of excellence where you will be having treatment.
Date from shipment of sperm to arrival at the centre of excellence may vary depending on where the sperm bank is. You need to be aware that the donor sperm needs to reach the centre of excellence prior to commencement of treatment.
Book a consultation
NOW-fertility’s commitment is to make fertility care accessible, successful and stress free for patients.
If you are ready to start your journey, book a consultation with one of our experienced fertility consultants.
