Sperm donation is a procedure where a man donates semen, or the fluid containing sperm that is released during ejaculation, to help a person or couple become pregnant.
Donated sperm can be injected into a woman’s reproductive tract (intrauterine insemination) or used to fertilize mature eggs in a laboratory (in vitro fertilization or IVF ). The use of donated sperm is known as third-party reproduction.
A man who gives sperm donation can be known or anonymous to the recipient. While sperm donation given to a known recipient is called directed donation.
Before a man can donate sperm, he must undergo an examination to determine his medical condition and other risk factors. So, you can be sure that there are no health risks associated with sperm donation. However, it is also important to understand the potential emotional, psychological, and legal issues of sperm donation.
Why Donate Sperm?
Sperm donation is done to help individuals or couples to have children. You can choose to donate sperm to help those who are unable to conceive, such as women who do not have a male partner or couples who experience male infertility.
If a man donates semen to a sperm bank, he will likely be paid for each donation that passes the sperm bank’s screening process. The payment is meant to compensate him for his time and other related expenses. The amount is usually low enough that money is not the primary objective of the procedure.
How to Prepare and Procedure for Undergoing Sperm Donation?
There are many preparations and procedures that a man who wants to donate his sperm will undergo.
If a man is considering donating sperm, make sure he understands the long-term impact of his decision.
If he makes an anonymous donation, consider the following:
- Is he ready to be the biological father of a child or children he will never meet?
- What if a child conceived with the help of sperm donation wants to meet his biological father one day?
- Will he tell his current or future family about his decision to donate sperm?
- If he is donating sperm to someone he knows, consider hiring an attorney to draft a contract defining financial and parental rights and obligations.
Medical examination
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a basic health screening for sexually transmitted diseases and certain risk factors before a man can become a sperm donor. Some countries also require additional screening.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommends that men who wish to donate sperm, including those who are known recipients, complete this screening:
- Age. Most sperm banks require donors to be between 18 and 39 years old. Some sperm banks set an upper age limit of 34.
- Physical Exam. The exam will include taking blood and urine samples to test for sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV. If a person is a regular sperm donor, he will need to have a physical exam every six months while donating sperm. He will also be asked to report any changes in his health.
- Semen Test. He will need to provide several semen samples. Before providing each sample, he will likely be asked to abstain from ejaculation, either through sex or masturbation, for at least 48 to 72 hours. The samples will be analyzed for quantity, quality, and movement.
- Genetic Testing. A blood sample will be analyzed to see if he is a carrier of any genetic conditions. Ask the individual sperm bank what tests they perform, as some banks are more extensive than others.
- Family Health History. A man must provide details of his health history including mental health for at least two generations of his family. A history of hereditary disease will disqualify him from donating sperm.
- Psychological Evaluation. A man will be asked if he is concerned about sharing personal information with his biological children or about future contact with them. If a man is donating sperm to someone he knows, he will likely be asked to talk about his relationship with the recipient. If he has a partner, counseling may also be helpful.
- Personal and Sexual History. A man must provide a detailed history of his sexual activity, drug use, and other personal information to indicate whether he has any risk factors for developing sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV. He will also be asked to share detailed information about his habits, education, hobbies, and personal interests. He may also be asked to provide a picture or video of himself or an audio recording of his voice.
If he tests positive for any medical conditions during the screening process, he will be notified and referred for treatment or counseling. If he passes the screening process, he will be asked to sign a consent form, which will likely state that he denies having any risk factors for sexually transmitted infections or genetic conditions. It is important to discuss whether he is open to contact from any child conceived with the help of his sperm.
Implementation Procedure
Before sperm donation, a man will likely be asked again not to ejaculate, either through sex or masturbation, for at least 2–3 days. Sperm donation is usually done at a sperm bank. He will provide a semen sample in a sterile cup through masturbation in a private room.
The sample will then be frozen ( cryopreserved ) and kept in quarantine for at least six months. It will then be tested again for infectious diseases, such as HIV.
If all tests are negative, the frozen sample will be thawed and the quantity, quality and motility of the sperm will be re-evaluated. Sperm samples from some men are more susceptible to damage during the freezing process than others. The damage caused by the freezing process can also vary between samples from the same donor.
If the sperm meets the quality standards, it will be selected as a donor. However, some sperm banks will also limit the number of pregnancies that can occur later.
However, if the test result is positive for any medical condition, he or she will be informed and referred for treatment and counseling.
