Sperm Donor Bank
Donor Sperm Treatments
Treatment using donor semen for certain infertile couples has been practised in this country for many years. The treatment can take different forms, either a simple insemination treatment called Intra-uterine Insemination (IUI-D) or In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF-D). These methods are very similar to IVF and IUI treatments with partner sperm This section aims to highlight unique aspects that treatments using donor semen involve such as selecting a donor and legal status of paternity.
Donor Sperm Treatments
- Couples where the male partner has no sperm present in the ejaculate and further investigations show no presence of spermatogenesis (the process of making sperm) in the testicles.
- Couples where the male partner has low levels of sperm in the ejaculate, storage ducts or testicular tissue but the female partner is not suitable to undergo IVF/ICSI treatment
- Men carrying certain inherited genetic disorders
- Single women
- Lesbian couples
Selecting a Donor
All donors are carefully screened and selected through medical history, semen analysis and extensive blood and urine testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, sexually transmitted diseases and certain genetically inherited conditions. They are required to be of normal intelligence, fit and healthy and must undergo full implications counselling before proceeding with donations which are then frozen and quarantined for 6 months before repeat tests are completed. Donors are only accepted if the second blood test is negative.
The Government has introduced new regulations to remove anonymity from Sperm, Egg and Embryo donors (see ‘Telling your child’, below). Since this change on 1st April 2005 the number of sperm donors in the UK has fallen and availability of samples is lower.
We do, however, have a selection of donors and we try as far as possible to use a donor who has the same physical characteristics as your partner, e.g. skin colour, eye colour, hair colour, body build and blood group. This, however, requires a large and constant panel of donors and this might limit the availability of donors in certain ethnic groups. Occasionally you may be required to change to an alternative donor if your first choice is not available on commencing a second treatment cycle.
Can I bring my own donor?
If you have a friend or family member who is interested in donating samples for your use then they should first attend the clinic for a consultation where they will be informed regarding the process and a full medical questionnaire and initial semen analysis will be performed to see if they are suitable.
It is possible that during screening we may pick up an abnormality with respect to their medical health, a genetic disorder or fertility. Not only would this mean that they are unsuitable to become a sperm donor but there may be medical implications now or in the future. Before undergoing full screening donors must attend a session with one of our independent counsellors.
Following consultation and counselling the donors can commence full screening. If you are bringing a donor whose samples are only to be used by yourself, you will be responsible for all of the costs of the screening process and it is therefore a more expensive method of donor sperm treatment. In addition, the sperm samples must be quarantined in storage for a minimum of six months and will therefore not be available for use until after this date, thereby ostponing your treatment.
Freezing of samples for donation is only commenced after full screening and counselling visits are complete. Multiple semen samples will be required and a blood test performed six months after the final sample. Any donors must therefore be able to commit to multiple visits to the clinic in working hours during the donation period.
Pregnancy Following Donor Sperm Treatment
The progress and outcome of pregnancy are not different to treatments whereby partner sperm has been used. All pregnancies are subject to risks, and miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and babies born with congenital or genetic defects are still possible.
Legal Parentage of Children
Couples who are not legally married who undergo treatment with donor sperm need to sign special consent forms if they wish to name the male partner as the legal father. Both the female and male partner must sign individual forms in order for the arrangement to be legally acknowledged.
The same law applies to same sex couples who are not in a civil partnership. The partner not receiving treatment must sign a consent if she wishes to be acknowledged as the second legal parent. The partner undergoing treatment will also need to sign a separate consent accepting this.
For married couples and lesbian couples in a civil partnership the partner not receiving the treatment will automatically be presumed as the legal parent. Nevertheless a consent form will be invited from this partner to avoid doubt as to their intentions.
Forms for the withdrawal of consent are required should any partner wish to remove his/her consent to be the father/second legal parent.
Telling your Child - Confidentiality
You may wish to think carefully about whether you will be telling your child about his or her origins.If you do so, you should be aware that the child may choose when they have reached the age of 18 to seek identifying information from the Human Fertilisation & Embryo Authority about the donor of egg or sperm. The right to apply for any such information arises under regulations in Parliament which came into force on 1st April 2005.
People over the age of 16 can also check whether or not they may be related to the person they intend to marry, as a consequence of donated egg or sperm.
Success Rate
At least 50% of couples achieve a pregnancy following treatment with donor sperm. Most women who become pregnant do so within six treatment cycles.
Risks of infection
This is unlikely as all donors are carefully screened and each semen sample is checked before use.Screening is for the AIDS virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and CMV. All sperm are frozen for a six month quarantine and repeat infection screening is performed after this period.
