Sperm donation is the process by which a fertile man donates his sperm, allowing it to be used in artificial insemination (to deliver the sperm directly into the uterus of a woman to help her conceive) or other fertility procedures. It could be used by a woman or women who are not the donor's sexual partners to become pregnant.
Process of Sperm Donation
The process of sperm donation is a long procedure that can take up to 6–8 weeks. The time period may vary between different sperm banks and the number of tests conducted.
- The man is first screened thoroughly to check his physical health and the presence of any disorders. This may require a number of visits to the sperm bank.
- If the applicant is selected for a donation, he will be given a private room and allowed to ejaculate in a sterile container.
- A sample of the semen is taken out of the container, combined with a cryopreservative solution, divided into aliquots, placed in vials, and then frozen with liquid nitrogen.
- The frozen semen is kept at -321 degrees F.
- The frozen semen sample is used for artificial insemination when necessary.
Who Qualifies for Sperm Donation?
Not all men can be sperm donors. There are a number of factors that determine a man's ability to donate his sperm. These factors include:
- The donor should be between the ages of 21 and 40 (some banks only accept men under the age of 34).
- The donor should be free of infectious diseases such as HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Hepatitis C.
- They should not have any history of genetic disorders or medical conditions like cystic fibrosis.
- The donor shouldn't be a regular smoker, drug user, or alcoholic. This can reduce the sperm count and quality.
- They should not have mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
- The donor shouldn't have visited areas with many AIDS cases or had unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners in the last six months.
Factors like physical abnormalities, blood group, lifestyle, education, etc. are also taken into account.
It is always a good idea to contact the doctor to learn more about the criteria and whether a person fits them or not.
Why is Sperm Donation Done?
Sperm donation is used when a man wants a child but is unable to use his own sperm. The reason for this can be one or more of the following:
- If the man has a very low sperm count or sperm quality.
- If the man has a genetic disorder that he doesn't want to pass on to this child.
- If the man has undergone a vasectomy. (a surgical procedure that stops the passage of sperm into the woman's urethra)
- If the man is suffering from any other conditions that have made him infertile.
- Sperm donation can also be used by female couples and single females who want a child.
Benefits of Sperm Donation
Benefits of using sperm donation:
- The best advantage of sperm donation for the recipient is that they will be able to have a child.
Benefits to the donor:
- The donors will get a free health checkup.
- The donors can be content to know that they have helped a couple conceive.
- The donors will receive a payment. In India, the payment is between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,000.
Risks involved in Sperm Donation
The process of donating sperm is a safe and reliable one. There are no immediate or long-term adverse effects associated with it. There will be no effect on your daily lifestyle.
It is generally not allowed to produce sperm samples at home as the chances of contamination are very high. It is collected at the sperm bank.
The man who will be donating the sperm is asked not to have intercourse for 2–3 days before the donation. This allows the body to build up sperm prior to donation.
No. The child born from the donated sperm would not be the legal child of the donor. The donor will not own any legal parenthood rights. The recipient couple will be the child's legal parents.
Yes. A married man can become a sperm donor as long as he is within the sperm donation age limit.
Yes, but putting limits on your donation may restrict how often it can be used for fertility treatments. The majority of donor limitations are related to matters of religion and culture. Sperm donation can be a very good option for couples where the man is infertile. However, it's always advisable to contact the doctor for further details. Request an appointment at: Apollo Fertility, Thane Call 1860 500 4424 to book an appointment.
Treatments
