At Alcove Fertility Center, we offer the option of using donor sperm for patients who are unable to conceive using their own sperm or who are in a same-sex relationship.
Our donor sperm programme includes a wide range of sperm donors, all of whom have undergone rigorous screening and testing to ensure their health and suitability for donation. We offer both anonymous and known sperm donation options, allowing patients to choose the type of donor that best meets their needs.
Our team of fertility specialists will work with you to understand your fertility goals and help you explore the various sperm donor options available. We are committed to supporting you throughout the donor selection process and ensuring that you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Treatment options with donor sperm
Donor sperm can be used for either IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF treatment with ICSI.
IUI or Artificial insemination involves inserting prepared semen through the neck of the womb (the cervix) and into the uterus, close to the time of ovulation. Sometimes, fertility drugs may be used to stimulate the ovaries and encourage the release of eggs.
IVF is a procedure where higher doses of fertility drugs are used to encourage a larger number of eggs (usually 5 – 15) to grow. These eggs are then collected from the ovaries and joined with the donated sperm, using intracyto plasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in the laboratory where they are allowed to develop in a protected environment for a few days before being transferred back into the woman’s uterus.
IVF is a more complex and expensive form of treatment but carries a significantly higher pregnancy rate than artificial insemination. Your fertility specialist will discuss these options with you and help you decide which treatment is right for you.
Using a known sperm donor
You may choose to use a known sperm donor, who could be a friend or family member.
We cannot accept sperm donors who are under the age of 18, are a close relative of the recipient being treated or are from a younger generation of the recipient(s).
We also do not encourage known donors who are over the age of 50 years of age, have a past or current history of significant mental health problems or have a medical condition themselves or in their family that may be passed onto future children.
However, you may have a strong or very sound reason for choosing a particular known donor and we will discuss the implications of that donor on an individual basis.
Using a de-identified clinic recruited sperm donor
De-identified sperm donation is where the identity of the donor is not known to the recipient(s) at the time of treatment, although identifying information will be made available for later access by the donor conceived child once they reach 18 years of age.
De-identified donors are recruited locally or from overseas by Alcove Fertility Center.
The donated sperm is available for treatment to any Alcove Fertility patient and can be used to create up to three families.
Demand for donor sperm usually exceeds supply, and for this reason, we have established a waitlist to ensure fair and non-discriminatory access of recipients to treatment with de-identified sperm donors.
Preparation of sperm donors
All our donors, whether they are recruited locally or overseas, undergo rigorous preparation to donate sperm, including:
Thorough screening of medical history, including family and genetic history; tests for HIV, Hepatitis B & C, HTLV I & II, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Chromosomes, Blood Group, Rhesus antibodies and full blood count.
We carry out extensive testing of our donors.
To provide you with safety against infection, all donated sperm is quarantined for 3 to 6 months, and donors are re-screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV I & II and syphilis prior to release for treatment.
Donors and their partners spend time with our counsellors to consider the legal and psychological implications of donation. Counselling is a critical part of enabling donors to understand and be comfortable with the long-term implications of their decision.
All donors are only able to help create five families worldwide. As the donor will also want to have a family of his own, we will only allow three women access to a donor.
FAQs – Sperm Donations
Sperm donation can help you have a baby if:
- The male partner in the relationship has no sperm of his own. Remember that with modern ICSI technologies, most cases of male factor infertility can be treated WITHOUT using donated sperm.
- The male partner in the relationship carries a serious genetic or infectious disease.
- You are in a same-sex relationship.
- You are single.
For health reasons, treatment with donor sperm is not provided to women past of the age of natural menopause (51 completed years). Women over 45 can access our donor sperm program if they are also using donor eggs.
The sperm donor of a child conceived from donated sperm is not legally considered the father. Donor conceived children are legally deemed to be the children of the birth mother. Individuals who are considering becoming a sperm donor don’t need to be concerned with having any legal responsibilities of a father once they donate.
image sources
- IVF-sperm-donor: inviTRA