The use of donor sperm can
allow patients to succeed with pregnancy in cases
where the partner’s sperm count is low. Other
scenarios in which donor insemination might be used
include: treatment for a single woman/same-sex
couple or if the male partner carries a genetic
defect that he would not want to pass on to his
children.
Sperm donors are typically less
than 40 years of age to minimize the potential
hazards of aging. Usually donors are anonymous
(unknown), though occasionally a known donor might
be used. A sperm donor has to undergo rigorous
blood testing to minimize the risk of transmitting a
communicable disease. Also, the sperm must be
quarantined for a minimum of 6 months prior to use.
Sperm banks (where donor sperm
can be found) typically have an extensive medical
history on the donor as well as his family. It is
common to obtain detailed information about
education, appearance, hobbies, and interests about
the donor.
The sperm donor will undergo an
initial semen analysis to confirm that the sperm are
of good enough quality to undergo freezing/thawing.
If selected, the donor will produce further samples
which are washed, concentrated, and frozen for at
least 6 months. At this time the donor is retested
for communicable diseases, and the sperm are only
available for release if all testing is negative.
Donor sperm can be used for
artificial insemination (where sperm is placed in
the uterus around the time of ovulation) or with in
vitro fertilization (IVF). Your doctor can help you
to decide what treatment option would be best for
your particular case.
