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IVF with Sperm Donor

Our thorough matching process will help you find your perfect sperm donor

Sometimes, using your own sperm in your fertility treatment just isn’t an option – whether that’s because you’re having trouble with male fertility, or because you’re a single woman or female couple. If that’s the case, we could still help you start your family by using donor sperm with IVF.

Is IVF with donor sperm right for me?

Our sperm donor programme is available to:

Female same-sex couples

Single women

Couples with male fertility problems.

While for some choosing IVF with donor sperm is the only option, for others, it’s not always an easy decision to make. That’s why we’ll be with you every step of the way, using counselling and support networks to help you decide what’s right for you.

Get in touch to speak to one of our dedicated Care team, who can talk you through your options.

What does IVF with donor sperm involve?

1. Initial consultation

The first step in starting IVF with a sperm donor is to register with your local Care clinic and book a consultation. During this consultation, we’ll identify whether IVF with donor sperm is the best option for you and answer any queries you might have.

2. Determining your treatment plan

We have two different treatment options if you are using donor sperm: IUI – also known as donor insemination – and IVF. Your consultation will enable us to determine which is the right course of treatment for you.

Donor insemination vs IVF with donor sperm

IUI - Donor insemination – also known as IUI – is a fairly quick procedure which involves inserting your chosen donor sperm through your vagina into your uterus at the time you ovulate.

IVF with donor sperm - IVF using donor sperm involves using fertility drugs to stimulate your ovaries. Your eggs are then inseminated with your chosen donor sperm, cultured in our laboratory and then transferred into your uterus.

If you or your partner are dealing with any female fertility problems, we’ll suggest IVF with donor sperm; otherwise, we should be able to treat you with IUI.

3. Care support

Because starting IVF using donor sperm is an important decision, we ask everyone planning to have treatment to meet with one of our specialists before you decide to go ahead.

The Sperm, egg and embryo donation (SEED) and PET are also available to help give advice and support on donation to donors, intended parents and surrogates.

4. Choosing a sperm donor

The next step is to find your perfect donor. You may choose a donor from a partner sperm bank, or use Care’s own sperm bank. The choice is yours, and we can help you with this.

We can arrange the shipment of your donor from a sperm bank to any Care clinic for treatment. We ensure all donors have been very carefully selected, and that each is fully screened and registered with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

All sperm donors are assessed on their health and medical history to help identify and screen out donors whose sperm could pose a health risk to you or your future child. We check that all donors:

Have good sperm counts

Are aged between 18 to 45 years

Are in good health

Have no personal or family history of genetically inherited conditions

Have no sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Donors are asked to provide a personal description which can be helpful when selecting your donor. You’ll be able to read their pen portrait, a goodwill message, and other non-identifying information they’ve provided.

Once you’ve told us what you’re looking for, we’ll match you with someone who fits your profile as closely as possible.

5. Starting your treatment

After we’ve determined the best course of treatment and you’ve chosen your sperm donor, you can begin your treatment plan, once your frozen donor sperm arrives at your chosen Care clinic.

IVF with sperm donor costs

You can find the most up-to-date information about the cost of treatment using donated sperm in the price list of your Care clinic.

Your payment will confirm the reservation of your chosen donor sperm in the Care Bank and ensures that the sperm is transferred to your chosen Care clinic.

If you decide not to use the donor sperm within 12 months, standard storage fees apply. If you decide not to go ahead with treatment, a refund of 50% may be possible if the sperm can be returned to the Care Bank for future use.

IVF sperm donor FAQs

Why should I use a fertility clinic for donor sperm treatment?

Because of the risks involved in home insemination, the HFEA advise that it’s always safer to use donor sperm from a licenced clinic.

There are several reasons why using a licenced fertility clinic is advisable over sourcing sperm from an unregulated company or using a private donor for home insemination:

When you use donor sperm from a licenced fertility clinic, the sperm has been screened and rigorously tested for infections and genetic disorders to ensure it’s healthy and safe to use.
A sperm donor from a fertility clinic will not be considered the legal parent to your child, be named on the birth certificate, or have any rights over how your future child is raised.
A clinic can determine the most accurate time for insemination, enabling the best chance of conception.

Can I use a private donor?

Yes, if you are considering using sperm from a known donor, this is an option too. We require known donors to undergo the same careful screening and assessments required by law to determine their suitability for donation. If they are suitable, they will then need to bank enough frozen sperm for your treatment.

Can I use the same sperm donor if I want my child to have siblings?

If you have a successful treatment cycle, you can arrange to keep an additional sample of your chosen donor’s sperm in store at Care for future treatment to grow your family. However, this is only possible if a further sample of the donor’s sperm is available.

What information can a donor-conceived child find out?

All sperm donors are registered with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

At 16, a donor-conceived child has the right to ask the HFEA whether they were born as a result of fertility treatment. They can also check if they are related to someone they plan to marry, enter into a civil partnership with, or intend to have a relationship with.

At age 18, a donor-conceived child can receive more information from the HFEA, including:

The donor’s name
Their date of birth
The town or district where they were born
Their last known postal address.

If a donor-conceived child has given their consent, then at 18, the HFEA can also share their identity with any donor-conceived, genetically related siblings who ask for the information.

What information can the sperm donor find out about my child(ren)?

Donors can find out the number, sex, and year of birth of any children conceived from their donation. They can’t find out their identity unless a donor-conceived child contacts them.

Will my sperm donor have legal parental rights?

No, your sperm donor will not be the child’s legal parent and will have no parental rights.

If you are married or in a civil partnership and having IVF with donor sperm, your partner will be the legal father or second parent of your child. If you are not married or in a civil partnership but using donor sperm, there are consent forms that you can choose to complete to ensure that your partner can become the legal father or second parent of your child.

If you are not having treatment with a partner and are not married or in a civil partnership, you will be your child’s only legal parent.

If you’d like to know more about treatment with donor sperm, contact us or get in touch with your local clinic.

Kate talks about her experience at Care and her decision to use donor sperm. For more information on using donor sperm in your fertility treatment, get in touch.