What Is Sperm Donation?
Sperm donation is a procedure in which a man donates semen — the fluid containing sperm that is released during ejaculation — to help an individual or a couple have a child.
Donated sperm can be injected into a woman’s reproductive organs (intrauterine insemination) or used to fertilize mature eggs in a lab (in vitro fertilization).
Sperm Donation Cost in Iran
The cost varies depending on factors, including the chosen City, clinics, and ART method.
Why Do Some People Need Donated Sperm?
Sperm donation is done to help an individual or a couple conceive a baby. You may choose to donate sperm to help those who are unable to conceive – such as a woman who does not have a male partner or a couple experiencing male infertility.
Donated sperm (sperm not from your partner) can be used in many types of fertility treatment. The donated sperm is used to fertilize an egg either inside the woman’s body (IUI) or outside the body (IVF).
Sperm donation can be considered in the following circumstances:
. Female same-sex couples.
. Single women who want to get pregnant without a partner.
. To avoid genetic diseases that may be passed on from the male partner.
. In cases of azoospermia (lack of sperm in the ejaculate), Oligospermia (low sperm count), Asthenozoospermia (reduced sperm motility), and Teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm morphology).
. After recurrent ICSI treatment failures with poor-quality sperm.
If you donate semen to a sperm bank, you’ll likely be paid for each donation that passes the sperm bank’s screening process. Payment is intended to compensate you for your time and any related expenses. This amount is usually small enough that money is not the main motivation for donating.
Am I Eligible to Donate My Sperm?
Not every man can be accepted as a sperm donor. You should meet several conditions before you can become a sperm donor. Sperm donation qualifications are there to make sure your sperm will help to make a healthy baby. To obtain these qualifications, you:
. Should be between the age of 18 and 41 years.
. Should have no history of drug use.
. Should not have genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis.
. Should be free of STDs like AIDs and hepatitis C.
. Should know your parents’ medical history.
. Should not have mental health conditions like bipolar disorder.
Sperm Donor Requirements
Men who want to make sperm donations — including those who are known to recipients — should complete these screenings:
. Age. Most sperm banks require donors to be between the ages of 18 and 41. Some sperm banks set a maximum age of 34.
. Semen testing. You’ll need to provide several samples of your semen. Before providing any sample, you will likely be asked to refrain from ejaculation — either through sex or masturbation — for at least 48-72 hours. The samples will be analyzed for sperm quantity, quality, and movement.
. Physical exam. The exam will include taking samples of your blood and urine to test for infectious diseases, such as HIV. If you become a regular sperm donor, you will need to have a physical examination every six months while donating sperm. You will be asked to report any changes in your health.
. Genetic testing. A blood sample will be analyzed to determine whether you are a carrier of any genetic conditions. Ask individual sperm banks which tests they perform; some banks conduct more extensive testing than others.
. Psychological evaluation. You will likely be asked if you are concerned about sharing your personal information with your biological children or about future contact with them. If you are donating your sperm to someone you know, you will likely be asked to discuss your relationship with the recipient. If you have a partner, counseling may also be helpful for them.
. Family medical history. You will need to provide details about the medical history of at least two previous generations of your family. A history of hereditary disease may disqualify you from donating sperm.
. Personal and sexual history. You will need to provide a detailed history of your sexual activity, drug use, and other personal information to show whether you have risk factors for developing an infectious disease, such as HIV. You will be asked to share detailed information about your personal habits, education, hobbies, and interests. You may also be asked to provide pictures or videos of yourself or a recording of your voice.
You’ll be notified and referred to treatment or counseling if you test positive for any medical conditions during the screening process.
If you pass the screening process, you will be asked to sign a consent form, which will likely state that you deny having any risk factors for sexually transmitted infections or genetic conditions. It is important to discuss whether you would like to have contact with any child conceived with the help of your sperm.
What Are the Benefits of a Sperm Donor?
There are plenty of benefits to both expectant parents and sperm donors alike:
. For women (or recipients of sperm donations):
. Generally, sperm donors are healthy. To donate sperm, men must undergo several genetic, psychological, and medical screenings. Many banks also provide photos of the donor as an adult and a child, listing characteristics such as height, hair color, IQ, education, hobbies, and more.
. You will be able to get pregnant. For some women and couples, sperm donation helps them fulfill their dream of having children.
. For men who are sperm donors:
. You will help a woman or couple have a child. This may be the last attempt to have a baby, so you are helping to fulfill your dreams of parenthood.
. You will receive financial compensation. Sperm donors do make a nominal fee.
. You can get free health tests. Sperm banks do genetic and medical testing for their potential donors.
What Are the Disadvantages of Using a Sperm Donor?
As long as the donor has been screened, there are no significant health risks associated with sperm donation, but using a donor can have negative aspects.
It’s up to you – or you and your partner – to determine whether the benefits outweigh the potential disadvantages.
. For women:
. Sperm donation can be a lengthy process. Typically, sperm banks freeze sperm for at least 180 days before use during insemination. During this time, the sperm is further tested for infections such as HIV, syphilis, Zika, etc.
. You should see a counselor or therapist. We recommend that you (and your partner, if appropriate) meet with a qualified expert in psychological counseling before deciding to use a sperm donor. That way, you can talk about any concerns or questions you may have about parenting a child conceived with donor sperm – including whether you want to include a known donor in your child’s life. Meeting with a genetic counselor can also be helpful.
. The sperm donor might want to be involved in your child’s life. While laws vary from country to country, a known sperm donor typically has no parental rights or financial obligations towards the child. Regardless of how involved (or uninvolved) you want the donor to be in your child’s life, you should hire an attorney who can draft a contract that outlines the rights and responsibilities of you and the donor. Anonymous donor contracts typically do not grant donors any rights or privileges. However, some sperm banks offer identity release programs where the donor can release their contact information to the child at age 18 if the child requests it.
. You will only be able to use your donor’s sperm. Most clinics do not allow you to “mix” donor sperm with your partner’s sperm. Also, keep in mind that if you want to have more children in the future — and want them to share a biological father — you’ll need more sperm from the same source.
. For men who are sperm donors:
. You may never meet your biological child. Or, on the other hand, your biological child may want to develop a relationship with you in the future.
. You should refrain from ejaculation for at least two to three days before donating sperm.
. Before you become a sperm donor, you should undergo psychological counseling.
. You may want to disclose that information later on. For example, you will need to decide whether you want to tell your partner or future children about your sperm donation.
Suppose you do decide to become a sperm donor or use a sperm donor to conceive, as long as you know what you’re getting into and talk to the appropriate practitioners and counselors. In that case, there’s a good chance all will go smoothly and be a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Sperm Donation Risks
There are no health risks associated with sperm donation.
Sperm Donation Process
First, the donor’s eligibility must be confirmed by undergoing all the essential screening. The potential donor is then asked to fill out a sperm donation application form, sign a consent form, and provide other necessary documents.
. The donor who has refused to have any ejaculation within 2-3 days before, is sent to a private room in a fertility center. The semen sample will be collected in a sterile container with a lid.
. The collected sample is washed in the laboratory to separate motile and healthy sperms. prepared sperm is placed into a particular freezing solution in vials. The vials are then sent to storage freezers containing liquid nitrogen. The samples are stored at -196 ºC.
After six months (at least 180 days), called the quarantine period, the sperm sample is thawed and retested to check their quality and the possibility of infectious diseases. Only if the test results during the quarantine period are acceptable the sperm samples of that donor can be used in artificial insemination in the future.
. Necessary blood tests are performed. Depending on the ART method chosen for the recipient, the woman may need ovarian stimulation. Her ovulation day is determined using an ultrasound or ovulation test. On that day, the woman’s eggs are punctured and fertilized by donor sperm, and finally, the resulting embryo is transferred to the woman’s uterus.
FAQ
- What Is the Success Rate of Sperm Donation?
In general, the success rate of sperm donation depends largely on the age and condition of the recipient, the chosen ART method (IUI, IVF, or ICSI), and the characteristics of the donor sperm. Women under 35 without infertility problems have the highest success rate for sperm donation. The success rate of donor sperm varies from 60% to 80%, depending on the ART method used. The overall pregnancy success rates for IVF, ICSI, and IUI have been reported to be 46.4, 35.5, and 16 percent, respectively. The success rate of donor sperm IVF is higher than that of donor sperm ICSI because, in the first method, the active and motile sperm are separated, washed, and then fertilized in the egg under controlled conditions.
- Who Is a Candidate for Using a Sperm Donor?
Both single individuals and couples are candidates for sperm donors. For example, a same-sex female couple or a single woman may also decide to use a sperm donor.
In the case of heterosexual couples, if one of the male partners is struggling with infertility (or if both male partners have infertility issues), the two prospective parents may decide to use a sperm donor. Still, it’s rarely a first-line option, since sperm issues can often be overcome with in vitro fertilization.
- Why Is Any Form of Ejaculation Forbidden Before Sperm Donation?
Because it may reduce the donor’s sperm count.
