There are several reasons why people consider sperm donation. Some men do not produce any sperm at all (azoospermia) and this may be due to many reasons. Sometimes it may be appropriate to retrieve the sperm directly from the testes - often called MESA / TESA. However, this surgical procedure may not be suitable for all cases and donor sperm as back up may be recommended if the results are very poor. Other men may have had surgery, some types of drug or radiation therapy, or even a genetic problem that has stopped the cells in the testes working. In these cases donor sperm is the only treatment option. Others may use donor sperm if they have poor quality sperm, problems with fertilisation in the past or risks of passing on an inherited disease. Donor sperm can also be used for single women and same sex couples.
Who are the donors?
Sperm donors are men aged between 18- 55 with a good sperm count. They have to undergo a range of tests to ensure that they are medically suitable to be donors. This includes a personal and family medical history (to assess whether there could be an inherited condition in the donor’s family), screening for sexually transmitted diseases including Hepatitis and HIV. The screening for HIV involves the sperm being frozen and quarantined for at least six months before it is released for use. Donors can be paid for their expenses and up to £15 per donation. Some donors will only allow their sperm to be used for heterosexual couples. It is usual practice for donors to be anonymous, but occasionally people have a known donor.
When do I have to arrange the donor sperm?
If you feel you want to proceed with using donor sperm you will need to book your treatment and arrange a coordination appointment at our clinic. At this appointment, the treatment will be discussed with you and your physical characteristics such as ethnic origin, height, eye and hair colour will be recorded. Both you and your partner will also need to be tested for blood groups, and other screening tests. All these characteristics will be used to match to a suitable donor. You will also be asked to sign consent forms.
Availability
All donors can be used until 10 pregnancies are achieved. Although there are a reasonable number of Caucasian donors, there is a shortage of some nationalities and ethnic groups and you will need to discuss this with the embryologists. (see choosing your donor.) The range of donors available can change, as new donors become available and other donors are withdrawn if the limit on the number of pregnancies is reached.
Choosing a suitable donor
Our embryologists will be able to discuss the choice of a donor with you. They will be able to give you information about the donor but only the kind of information that is non-identifying. (See HFEA section below) So, it will only include the donor’s physical characteristics and any other information he has provided, such as hobbies and interests.
Donors are usually selected on the basis of their match with the male partner but, if you are single or in a same sex relationship, the female characteristics are matched. This includes skin colour, eye colour, hair colour, height and body build and, finally, blood group where possible. If it is not possible to find a donor with a complete match, then any compromises will discussed with you. Other factors such as religion and social background are also taken into account if you feel this is particularly important but this can increase the difficulty in finding a match. We do try to select donors who have proven fertility to ensure good sperm function. It is important to remember that any child born from using donor sperm will be a random combination of the male and female characteristics, and so the characteristics of the resultant child cannot be predicted.
Arranging your treatment
Once you have decided to proceed with treatment, our nursing staff will arrange your timetable to start. During the month before you start treatment, you will need to speak to the senior embryologists who will organise the donor samples for you (Embryology Office Tel: 0208 383 8185). We normally order 3 ampoules of sperm at one time. One ampoule is used for each intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycle or all three for one IVF cycle. Donor sperm is NOT included in the treatment package cost and it is not usually covered if you have NHS funding. The cost is approximately £160 - £200 for the three ampoules. It is important to note that we are occasionally advised that a particular donor’s sperm has been withdrawn before you use all the samples. This may be because the limit on the number of pregnancies has been reached. and so we do not buy too many ampoules at one time or buy it too far in advance of your treatment.
Reserving further samples
If your treatment is successful , you may wish to have the option of a second pregnancy in the future using the same donor’s sperm. We strongly recommend that you reserve more ampoules even if you are not planning another pregnancy at the present time. This is because stocks of donor sperm are limited and it may not be possible to get the same donor for future treatment. We will write to you to remind you about this if your treatment is successful.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is the organisation that regulates the work carried out in IVF clinics. It maintains a Register of highly confidential information. Each clinic is legally required to collect certain information about donors – including their name, physical characteristics and ethnic origin. Knowledge of the identity of the donor is restricted to the staff at the treatment centre and the HFEA who maintain the Register. Donors are encouraged to provide additional non-identifying information about themselves and recipients can request to see this information. The IVF unit is not allowed to reveal identifying information about a donor who has asked to be anonymous (unless there are exceptional circumstances - see Disclosures below).
Any child born as a result of sperm donation will be genetically related to the donor’s own child(ren). In genetic terms they will be half brothers and sisters. From 2008 people aged 16 (if contemplating marriage) will be able to ask if they were conceived as a result of sperm, egg or embryo donation and, if so, whether they are related to the person they want to marry. From 2010 the right to this information will apply to 18 year olds. However, the law does not allow them to know the names or other identifying details about the donor.
Will anonymous donors remain anonymous?
The government is currently considering what general information people will be given if they apply to the Register and whether the law should be changed to make it possible for future donors to be identified. No decision has yet been made but the government has confirmed that all past donors will remain anonymous if the law is changed in respect of future donors. However, the government has confirmed that applicants to the Register will be given non-identifying information about the donor.
Disclosure
If a child was born with a disability and it was shown that the disability was a result of a donor failing to inform the clinic of defects about which he knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that child may be able to seek compensation for damages under the Congenital Disabilities (Civil Liabilities) Act 1973. In these circumstances information potentially identifying the donor could be disclosed.
Who are the legal parents?
Any woman who gives birth to the baby is the legal mother. In the case of sperm donation, her partner is the legal father so long as he has given written consent to treatment and they are being treated together as a couple. The child’s birth certificate would state that they were the legal parents. However, being a legal parent does not necessarily give the man full parental responsibility unless he is married to the child’s mother. Couples who are not married and have a child by donor sperm, are advised to seek legal advice about obtaining parental responsibility for the child.
What should I tell my child?
There are no regulations set down about whether children should be told about the use of donor sperm in their conception. You are, however, encouraged to think carefully about your decision and weigh up all the implications. There are issues to consider if you decide not to tell the child, as there would be if you intend to be open about the child’s origins. This will be discussed in more detail during your session with the counsellor.
Counselling
There are many issues to consider before making a final decision about using donor sperm in your treatment. It is essential that you are fully informed and have had sufficient opportunity to explore the implications for you and your partner if you are to plan a family in this way. For this reason, we arrange for you to see one of our counsellors who will talk through the ethical, emotional, legal and practical details of sperm donation. It is also a useful chance to explore the potential emotional and social issues for you now and in the future.
