Who are the donors?
All sperm donors from our clinic must volunteer to be donors as per HFEA regulations. Our sperm donors are reviewed by one of our consultants and must provide a full medical history along with medical screening prior to being accepted as a donor. Donors are screened for genetic conditions along with infections that can be passed on via semen including HIV and Hepatitis.
We also offer the option for you to import sperm from HFEA compliant external sperm banks. If this is something you wish to do, please discuss this with our team. Please do not order any sperm to the unit until you have completed all the required appointments and have discussed this with the team first.
How are donors selected?
Our sperm bank provides details of the available donor’s physical characteristics. Selecting a donor for treatment is a personal choice, the clinic can support you in your decision making but ultimately it is your choice.
If you are choosing to import sperm into the unit, the team will discuss with you the most appropriate quality to order for your specific treatment type. It is your personal choice which donor you select in regard to their characteristics.
Legal parenthood
UK law states that the person who gives birth to a child is always recognised as the child’s legal mother, regardless of their gender identity or whether they hold a Gender Recognition Certificate.
In most cases, a spouse or civil partner of the birth mother will automatically be recognised as the child’s second legal parent or may become a legal parent through completion of the appropriate consent forms. However, this may not apply in all circumstances involving trans patients or partners. This will be discussed with you in further detail at your clinic appointments.
If this applies to you, it is important that you are aware that additional legal steps (such as adoption or other legal processes) may be required to establish legal parenthood. We strongly recommend that you seek independent legal advice before treatment.
What are the wait times?
If you plan to use one of our NHS in house donors, the waiting time will vary depending on donor availability at the time of your treatment.
If you plan to import sperm from an external sperm bank then it can take up to two months from the date you order, for your sperm to arrive in the unit. Please do not order any sperm to the unit until you have completed all the required appointments and have discussed this with the team first.
Waiting times for treatment will be discussed with you individually at your clinic appointments.
What information can the donor know about me?
The donor is unable to find out any identifying information about you and the treatment you are having. They can request to know if their sample has been used successfully, the year of any birth and the gender of the child born.
Useful links:
Using donated eggs, sperm or embryos in treatment | HFEA
Home – Supporting donor conception families since 1993. Registered charity no. 1041297
