Here’s a quick summary of some of the things that you’ll need to think about when you’re using donor sperm.
Donor selection
If you decide to source donor sperm samples from a donor bank, then you MUST select a UK compliant donor: ID-Disclosure (Xytex) or Open donor (ESB). Also, remember to check the CMV status. The donor bank provides us with the information required to register the donor with the HFEA, so the donor’s details are on the record for any child born as a result of his donation. This is in case the child decides to access the details when they are at least 18 years old. Each donor can achieve a maximum of ten families in the UK, so not all the listed ID-disclosure/open donors may be available for import into the UK.
Quantity
Usually one vial (also referred to as one ampoule or 0.5 ml) is used per treatment cycle. Occasionally, the sperm in one vial does not survive the freezing process well and it may be necessary to thaw a second vial or to perform ICSI instead of IVF. For that reason, we insist you import at least two vials. Most patients choose to import 2-6 vials, but this is ultimately dependent on how many treatment cycles you might be prepared to undergo. You may also wish to consider that you may want to import extra vials to attempt for a sibling pregnancy. In that instance, you should contact the donor bank directly to discuss possible future availability of any individual donor.
If you’re a same-sex couple both wishing to have treatment with the same donor, please discuss this with the Donor Bank before your order.
Please be aware that there is no refund or buy-back option available for unused samples.
Quality or grade
Samples should be suitable for the treatment you’re planning to undertake. If you’re unsure, just speak to your doctor who will be happy to guide you.
Useful Contacts
Xytex
The CMV status of all the donors is clearly shown on the Xytex website. Xytex is based in the USA. Four types of vials (units) are available: unwashed, prewashed, ART and ICSI. These are suitable for several treatments as follows:
IUI treatment: unwashed units
IVF treatment: unwashed, prewashed or ART units
ICSI treatment: unwashed, prewashed, ART or ICSI units
Our lab will routinely prepare and wash all sperm samples on the day of treatment at no extra charge, so unwashed vials are usually more cost effective.
*Prices can be found on their website but should be confirmed with Xytex directly. The total cost may include the cost of the vials, shipping and any other relevant charges.
The CMV status of all the donors is clearly shown on their website. The ESB is based in Denmark and the ordering process is similar to that of Xytex.
Samples suitable for treatment: ICI or IUI open donor units only. As above, our laboratory routinely prepare and wash all sperm samples on the day of treatment at no extra charge, therefore ICI vials are usually more cost effective.
*Prices can be found on their website but should be confirmed with ESB directly. The total cost may include the cost of the vials, shipping and any other relevant charges.
Semovo is based in the UK so all of their donors are suitable for use. They only supply one type of ampoule that will be suitable for all types of treatment. They also offer a personalised matching service after you have provided them with your details, and will only provide you with donors with a suitable CMV status.
*Prices are on the website but should be confirmed with the donor bank directly.
There’s generally no clinical need to choose a donor of a particular blood group (unless the recipient is known to have a rare Rh negative blood group). And if you choose to use the blood type of a donor as one of your selection criteria, you may decrease the number of donor choices available to you.
It’s also important to remember that children do not always inherit the same blood type as their biological parents. For example, a male and female couple with blood types A and B could biologically have offspring with any of the four blood types: A, B, O, or AB.
If you wish to know your blood group, then testing can be done at the clinic (results take 5 days) or your GP may be able to do it for you.
CMV (cytomegalovirus) status explained
CMV (Cytomegalovirus) is a common virus that over 80% of people will contract at some point during their lifetime. The initial symptoms are usually characterised by cold or flu-like symptoms so many people are unaware that they have actually been infected with CMV. CMV infection has little or no impact for a healthy individual, but it can have consequences if a CMV negative woman (someone who has not had CMV) contracts this virus in the early stages of pregnancy as it may have implications for the health of the developing foetus.
Donors who are described as CMV positive have tested positive for CMV IgG, which indicates that they have contracted CMV at some point. They have screened negative for CMV IgM which indicates they do not have current CMV infection.
If you are CMV NEGATIVE for both IgG and IgM you should select a CMV NEGATIVE donor. In a small number of cases it may not be possible to find a suitable CMV negative donor; in these cases you must contact your doctor for further advice.
If you are CMV POSITIVE for IgG and negative for IgM then you can choose a CMV POSITIVE or a CMV NEGATIVE donor.
Further support
There are many issues to consider if you’re thinking about using donor sperm and some of them are complicated. As well as discussing those issues with a counsellor at our clinic, you might also find the following organisations have information you might find useful:
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
The HFEA is the regulator of fertility treatment in the UK
The Donor Conception Network is a supportive network of over 2,000 people who have been involved in donor conception, as donors, recipients or children conceived from donation.
