Sperm donation

Thank you for expressing an interest in becoming a sperm donor. 

This information is intended to give you an overview of the purpose and value of donating your sperm.  If after reading this information you still have further questions, please feel free to contact the andrology lab: [email protected]

Why do we need to recruit sperm donors?

An increasing number of couples who are unable to have children find this is because the male partner does not produce sperm, or does not produce enough healthy sperm for fertility treatment. In these cases, donor sperm may be the only treatment option available.

Donated sperm may also be used to treat female same-sex couples or single women. This offers them the chance to have children through fertility treatment in a safe, licensed fertility centre.

Current UK law allows for sperm from one donor to be used to create a maximum of 10 families.

As you may be aware, donor sperm is in very short supply across the UK, and recruiting sperm donors can be challenging. We are therefore extremely grateful that you are considering becoming a sperm donor.

Is there a financial compensation to be an sperm donor?

Sperm donation is done on a voluntary and altruistic basis. Under HFEA legislation you will be entitled to a maximum compensation of £45 per clinic visit to cover expenses.

How does the recruitment process work?

The first stage in the recruitment process is to email the andrology lab on: [email protected]  

You will receive a questionnaire that needs completing and returning to broadly assess your suitability as a donor. 

There are certain high-risk groups from which we cannot recruit donors. 

If you consider yourself to belong to, or have ever belonged to, any of these groups you cannot donate sperm.

Once the form has been checked and we are happy to proceed, an appointment will be made for you to come to the centre and produce a test semen sample.

This sample will be produced by masturbation. If you are unable to masturbate for any reason you cannot be recruited as a sperm donor. We will be very happy to answer any questions you may have at this appointment. 

Your semen sample will be produced in a lockable, quiet room on the premises at Newcastle Fertility Centre. 

You will make a future appointment as we will need at least 2 samples to determine suitability. It is not unusual for us to request a third sample if the samples you have provided are inconsistent.

Irrespective of the outcome of these initial semen tests, we will reimburse you for expenses of up to £10 for attending each appointment and producing the semen samples.

What happens next?

We will perform tests to assess the quality of your sample. This will tell us how well it can be frozen and how well it survives being frozen. These samples are always destroyed once the tests are complete.

Based on these results, we will write to you to let you know whether you are suitable to become a donor.

The majority of men who volunteer as sperm donors cannot be recruited. This is usually because their semen samples do not meet the criteria we use during the selection procedure.

If your semen analysis results are significantly abnormal, we will offer you an appointment with one of our doctors to discuss it in more detail.

What happens if my samples are suitable?

If your samples pass the initial tests, we will ask you to make an appointment with one of our doctors. You will need to complete a detailed medical history questionnaire, and you should bring this with you to your appointment.

We will ask you to bring details of your GP and photo ID (i.e. your passport or driving license). You may also find it useful to write down any questions you have.

The doctor will go through your medical questionnaire with you, and you will have the opportunity to discuss all aspects of sperm donation. You will also complete the consent forms to register you as a sperm donor with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

We will need to contact your GP to confirm your suitability as a donor. You will have to sign a form giving us permission to do this.

To ensure the safety of our patients and potential donor conceived children, we must perform testing/screening for a number of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, Hepatitis B and C and significant genetic abnormalities. The results of these tests can take up to eight weeks and we will contact you as soon as the full set of results are available.

If you donate we will also ask you to contact us about any medical information that may come to light after donation that may have health implications for any woman who receives treatment with your sperm.

What is expected of me?

Once all the screening results are back and our doctors are happy to recruit you as a donor you will begin your sperm donations.

Donations need to be made regularly and you should anticipate attending the clinic at least once a week until sufficient sperm has been collected and stored.  This usually takes nine months, but this may vary from donor to donor.

The time required to attend the centre and donate often takes no longer than 30 minutes. Please also consider your travel time to/from the clinic.

Being a sperm donor is a big commitment. We do ask that you think about this and can ensure you are able to attend regularly for your donations.

At each visit you will be asked to sign a form relating to your current health. This includes STIs but also foreign travel. 

Please inform the team if you have plans for or have undertaken international travel to areas which have specific health issues such as malaria, Zika as this may have implications for your donation.

With your permission we may ask you to return for further donations at a later stage. This can be to provide treatment for couples seeking siblings when there are limited supplies left.

Quarantining samples prior to use

As it is possible for a virus to reside in your body (and your sperm) but not be detectable for up to 3 months. We will repeat your screening tests at intervals throughout your donation period and finally a full 3 months after your last donation. We will let you know when these screening tests need to be done and arrange the appointments with you.

You should therefore ensure that you are available to attend the centre 3 months after your final donation.  These tests have to be done before we can use the sperm for treatment procedures.

What if a child born from my donation has an abnormality?

New genetic conditions can sometimes occur by chance and are not inherited from either parent. In rare cases, a child may be born with a genetic condition that is inherited from their parents, even though there was no previous family history.

If a child conceived using your donated sperm is later found to have a genetic condition that may affect you or your family, you can choose whether you would like to be contacted about this.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have given all relevant information to the clinic as far as is reasonably possible. A donor may be considered liable if a child was born with an abnormality resulting from donation where relevant information was knowingly or negligently withheld.

A person born with an abnormality from treatment using donated sperm could sue the donor if it is proven that they did not tell staff relevant facts about their own or family medical history during screening that could have been passed on from donation.

What happens after I have finished donating?

Access to donor information at age 16

Donors are registered with the HFEA who hold all your information confidentially.

Current UK law allows that anyone born as a result of treatment using sperm, eggs or embryos which were donated after April 2005 will be able to apply at the age of 16 years to the HFEA for non-identifying information about the donor. 

This includes information such as physical description, ethnicity and the (anonymous) personal statement written by the donor.

Access to donor information at age 18

At the age of 18 years the person may apply to the HFEA for identifying information about the donor, including name, date of birth, and last known address.

Should the HFEA receive such a request they will make a reasonable attempt to contact and forewarn you before disclosing identifiable details to anyone born as a result of your donations.

We will discuss with you at your appointment with the doctor. It is important to note that as a sperm donor registered with the HFEA you are not the legal parent and you will not be financially or emotionally liable for the upbringing of any child created using the sperm you donated at Newcastle Fertility Centre.

Following donation we will ask you supply up-to-date contact information so that you can be informed if and when disclosure of identifiable information will be made. It is important that you update us and/or the HFEA of any changes in contact details.

Can I change my mind?

You can change your mind at any point in your donor pathway. On your written instruction all stored material involving your gametes will be disposed of. 

We would always offer an appointment to discuss this decision since there may be conditions e.g. allowing for siblings only that you may wish to consider.  You are however free to vary or withdraw your consents at any time.  Please contact the department if you wish to do so.

Our commitment to a quality service

We are committed to maintaining and improving our standards and are enrolled in the UK National External Quality Assurance Scheme (NEQAS) for semen analysis. 

The centre is also licensed by the Human Fertility and Embryology Association (HFEA) for the procurement of donor gametes and delivery of infertility services.

Final words

Due to the shortage of sperm donors, we would be very grateful if you could help raise awareness of our donor programme among family members, friends or others who may be interested.

We need many more donors to allow us to continue to meet the needs of an ever increasing number of patients desperate to start families.