My partner and I need to use donated sperm how do I go about it?

Your clinic will have advised that this is the course of treatment you need to take. They will advice on the availability of sperm within their criobank or one, which they use and make an appropriate appointment with their staff. They will also make you an appointment with their counsellor who will help guide you both through any emotional, legal, practical or clinical issues you may have, enabling your informed choice that this is the appropriate programme for you.

We have had the initial appointments (as above) and would like to proceed, what should we do next?

The Crio. Clinic will give you a ‘Characteristics Record Sheet’ fill this in with the characteristics of your ‘ideal’ donor, this is usually the male partner’s characteristics.  Once complete, ensure this form is given or posted to the Cryoservices staff.

What rights do the donors have?

This may differ from country to country it is important to have these explained to you in detail by your licensed clinic (if a person does not use a licensed clinic the legislation may not apply leaving the donor and the recipient unprotected and liable to other issues).
In the UK and some other countries in brief the law is as follows:
Legally the donor has no rights over the recipient and the recipient has no rights over the donor. However some rights are given to the developing child these are; at the age of 16yrs and if in a sexual relationship they can access information from the (UK) Human fertilisation and Embryology Association (HFEA) to ascertain they are not sexually active with their genetic sibling. At the age of 18years the developing young adult can access all traceable data from the HFEA of their donor.
The donor has the right to withdraw his consent for the use of his sperm up to the point of embryo transfer or insemination.
Although the donor has this right we at Mensfe know of only 3 cases this has happened in the UK. This is in contrast to the hundreds of though sands of successful donations.
 
How will I be matched with a donor?

The Cryo staff will check the details you have requested on your Characteristics form, then match either your partner or yourself as closely as possible to a sperm donor.  It is important to remember that the characteristics you choose may be the genes your child inherits and that you do not view the donor matching as a process to choose someone who may be your own ‘ideal partner’.  There is some genetic information we know is inheritable such as eye and hair colour however there are many ‘environmental’ factors that are not scientifically known to be inheritable.  This means that if you prefer a donor who excels in sport or music for example, there is no guarantee your child will inherit any such talent at all.

How many donors do you have and how many will I be offered?

This will differ from clinic to clinic however most Cryo banks have between 15 – 30 donors at any time in total that are fully screened and released for treatment use.  In the UK you will only be offered 3 – 6 donor profiles at a time as this is the average number that will closely match the characteristics you have requested, although this does vary from Clinic to clinic irrespective of the country you are having treatment in. You will be given a time frame (which may vary) but usually about one week to decide if one of the options is suitable.

How are the donors recruited and screened?

Donors are recruited by clinics from all walks of life, the most popular way are through newspaper advertising, although some donors approach clinics direct because of their awareness and wish to help less fortunate infertile individuals than themselves. In the UK as in some other countries the legislation does not permit donors to receive any remuneration other than expenses for their donations. Other countries have different legislation allowing donors to be paid. All donors who donate to UK (other countries may differ) licensed clinics will undertake extensive screening this will include blood and sperm tests as well as psychosocial screening. If all is satisfactory the sperm will be placed in quarantine for 6 months. After this period the donor is asked to have further blood tests, if these are OK (negative HIV etc…) the sperm is released to 10 females (who would be able to have 10 families). If the tests prove positive the sperm is allowed to perish. Again the above differs from country to country please check your clinic who will be able to explain the programme available to you.

Am I able to view photographs of the donors?

Yes, in the UK although again it may differ from country to country. If there is no photo available for your chosen donor, it may still become available in the future, clinics are reliant on the donors to offer the images, it is not compulsory for them to do so.

What if I don’t like the donor options I am given?

This differs from clinic to clinic country to country however in general: If you feel the first options are not suitable then you need to inform the Cryoservices Manager or staff so they can see if there are any other options to offer to you.  Alternatively they may be able to import sperm from other countries like America on your behalf; this is a good option for patients who request very specific characteristics and those requiring a non-Caucasian or mixed ethnicity donor. This is now a fast and simple option in the UK, if you are not in the UK your clinic will tell you your options.

How much time do I have to utilise the sperm?

Once you have chosen and reserved your donor sample, the sperm is stored in the Cryobank for you until it expires – sperm has a maximum storage period of ten years from the date it is frozen.  You do not need to have treatment immediately after reserving the sperm. If you prefer the characteristics of a particular donor then it is advisable to reserve the sperm as early as you can.

How much does this all cost?

The fees will vary from clinic to clinic however in general you will know the price prior to purchase and will not be invoiced until you have confirmed which donor you’ve chosen. The fee includes storage for the first twelve months then an annual storage fee will be due.

What if I use all the sperm I have in my Donorshare?

The Cryobank will keep track of how much sperm you are using and contact you when the stock is running low.  You will be given the option of either purchasing another Donorshare from an alternative donor or if you wish, you may want to enquire if further stock is available from your original donor.  If there is sufficient stock remaining from your original donor you will be able to purchase a few additional amps. 

I’ve selected a suitable Donor, what should I do next?

Inform the Cryobank staff immediately by telephone or email.  Your donor will be confirmed the same day however you still need to sign the characteristics form and either post or drop it off to the Cryoservices to be witnessed and stored with your records.   With regard to beginning treatment, you need to contact your clinic (nursing team/doctor) and they will provide you with the next steps.

Can I transfer my sperm samples to another centre?

If in the UK Yes, if the centre you wish to ship to is HFEA registered. However legislations differ from country to country, please check these if outside the UK. Contact your Cryobank for further information. 

Can I export my samples abroad?

Exporting gametes is possible from the UK, however the treatment you are planning to have abroad must be considered a ‘legal’ treatment in the UK.  There are also different regulations if you are planning to ship to an EU country as opposed to a country outside the EU.   The receiving centre must be able to provide suitable documentation to prove its accreditation with appropriate regulatory bodies.  If in the UK your donor must provide his consent to export his samples, as the laws abroad may not be the same as they are in the UK.