Using a sperm donor to help you conceive
For some people, using donated sperm could be their only chance to have a child. The Melbourne IVF donor sperm program can help, using sperm donated either by someone you know or by someone who has been recruited by Melbourne IVF, known as a clinic recruited donor.
Unfortunately, there is a limited number of clinic recruited donors available at any one time, therefore you are encouraged to consider finding your own donor (maybe a friend or family member) who is prepared to help in this way.
Who can be a sperm donor?
Healthy men between 25 and 45 years of age may be recruited by Melbourne IVF as clinic donors. Exceptions to this age criterion may be made if you have recruited a known sperm donor who is over 45 years of age.
Who can use donated sperm?
Sperm donation may help you achieve your dream of having a baby if you are:
- in a same-sex relationship,
- single woman, or
- a heterosexual couple where the male partner is diagnosed with infertility problems and viable sperm are not retrievable, or carries a serious genetic or infectious disease.
Treatment options using donor sperm
Treatment with donor sperm may be:
- Self-insemination (home treatment using quarantined recipient-recruited donor sperm)
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- IVF
Getting started using donor sperm
IUI and IVF treatments with recipient-recruited or clinic-recruited donor sperm requires a series of appointments:
- Fertility Specialist Appointment: a medical evaluation is undertaken, screening blood tests are organised, and relevant consent forms are signed;
- Counselling Appointments: both the sperm donors (and their partners), and the sperm donor recipient (and their partners) must attend at least two sessions with a counsellor to discuss the social, ethical and legal implications of sperm donation. The donor must also sign a consent form. If the donor is known to the recipient, a joint counselling session may be scheduled.
- Nursing Information Session: An information session with a nurse is organised to discuss the cycle in detail prior to commencing treatment.
Before commencing treatment, sperm donor recipients must organise a Criminal (Police) Record check and a Child Protection Order check.
For Sperm Donor Recipients: Treatment Information
Donor Insemination (IUI)
The recipient's cycle is monitored to detect ovulation and sperm is placed through the cervix into the uterus at the appropriate time in the cycle.
IVF treatment using donor sperm
The fertilisation technique used for all IVF treatment cycles using clinic recruited donor sperm is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). The quantity of sperm required for ICSI is less than for normal IVF (where the sperm enters the egg by its own efforts) and ensures there is adequate sperm available for the recipient to undertake more than one stimulation cycle if required.
For Sperm Donors: The sperm donation process
Following the counselling appointments, sperm donors are required to attend a series of medical appointments as follows:
1. Screening blood tests and semen analysis
Following the first counselling session the donor attends for screening blood tests, which include infectious and some genetic screening and a semen analysis. The results are reviewed and discussed during the medical assessment.
2. Medical assessment
The donor then has a fertility specialist consultation, where his medical history, results of blood tests and semen analysis are reviewed. He is also required to complete a Genetic and Medical Health Questionnaire and Sperm Donation Statement, which is reviewed during this consultation. If required, a clinical geneticist will review the Genetic and Medical Health Questionnaire to assess the donor’s suitability to continue with the program.
3. Sperm is quarantined
If the donor is suitable, at least five donation appointments are scheduled. The donated sperm is stored and quarantined for six months, after which time the donor is required to undergo further infectious screening blood tests. If the test results are negative, the stored sperm is made available for allocation and use by recipients.
Getting started
If you wish to use a sperm donor to help you conceive, whether you have your own sperm donor or require a clinic recruited donor, contact our Public Liaison Co-ordinator on 1800 111 483 or via our website. They will advise you how to proceed with the process.
Is sperm donation right for me?
Attend a special public information evening dedicated to providing information about our sperm donor program. These evenings are held intermittently throughout the year.
> Phone our Public Liaison Coordinator on 1800 111 483
> Contact us for more information about using donated sperm
> Download our Sperm Donor Recipient Patient Information booklet, which tells you more about treatment using a sperm donor.
