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Receiving donor sperm

Women with child

According to the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority, around 14,500 fertility treatments are carried out in the UK using donated sperm or donated eggs. For some people, accepting sperm or egg donors is the only way pregnancy is possible. You might need a sperm donor for a number of reasons. Find out about the process for receiving donor sperm and how it works at TFP.



Is donor conception the right fertility treatment for you?


If you are unsure, this is something we can discuss in a consultation. However, if you are looking to conceive with the help of a donor, we will recommend that donor conception is right for you if:


  • You are single

  • You are in a same-sex female couple

  • Your own sperm is unlikely to result in a pregnancy

  • You are not producing any sperm of your own

  • You have a very high risk of passing on an inherited disease


Whatever the reason you need sperm donor conception, there are different pathways to treatment that will vary depending on your requirements.

Receiving donor sperm: The treatment process

As a couple or individual receiving donor treatment, the process for receiving sperm donation is outlined in detail below.

Step 1: Initial consultation and scan

The first stage in any fertility process is an initial consultation and scan with our experts at TFP. Our fertility specialists will devise a personalised treatment plan after performing a scan. We are extremely thorough at TFP and devise treatment plans catered specifically to the individual.

Step 2: Blood tests

After you have had the initial consultation and your treatment plan has been agreed upon, you will be required to have the following blood tests:

  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

  • Hepatitis B Core Antibody

  • Hepatitis C

  • HIV

  • Syphilis

  • Chlamydia

  • Gonorrhoea

  • CMV

Step 3: Counselling session with qualified specialists

Due to the emotional and physical implications of using a sperm donor, we recommend that anyone undergoing treatment takes part in our counselling sessions. We provide counselling sessions for individuals and couples. These sessions are an opportunity to work through your feelings with a fully qualified professional and to gain any emotional support you may need throughout your treatment process. At TFP, we support you every step of the way.

Step 4: Nurse Planning

The next stage is booking a planning appointment with our nursing team where your treatment protocol will be explained in detail and any questions you may have will be answered. During this consultation, you will also be shown how to administer any medication.

Step 5: Donor selection

If you are having treatment with donor sperm chosen from our clinic, we will work to match you with a suitable donor. We will also walk you through the consent forms and answer any questions you have as we go. If you are choosing to use a donor from outside of the clinic, we can give you advice on how best to proceed.

Step 6: Insemination treatment

At this point, you will be ready to have the insemination treatment. Depending on whether you are having IUI or IVF, the process may differ. So, we have outlined the full processes for each below.






The types of sperm donor


In the UK, there are different types of sperm donors. To avoid any confusion, we have separated the donor types clearly for you below:


Altruistic donors: These are men who have donated their sperm purely in the hope of giving someone else the chance to have a family. Altruistic donors do not know who they are donating their sperm to, and they will not know any details of future children that may be born as a result of their donation. However, in the UK, once children reach the age of 18, the law allows them to access information about their donor so that they can discover their identity if they want to.


Known donors: These are donors who have agreed to donate their sperm to a couple or individual they know. In the case of known donors, because both parties know each other’s identities, it is important to consider the emotional complications this can cause for everyone involved. While known donor arrangements can often prove very successful, we strongly recommend counselling for everyone involved.


At TFP, whether you know the donor or not, we screen all our donors thoroughly before any sperm donations take place. What’s more, a donor can be chosen with physical characteristics that match those of the parent. This is an option many people appreciate when undergoing sperm donor treatment.



Fertility treatments with donor sperm


TFP offers IUI and IVF fertility treatments using donor sperm. Not only can we help you find a sperm donor that’s right for you, but we can also support you throughout your treatment. Making the decision to go ahead with donor insemination can be scary, but at TFP, we are here for you every step of the way. Our sperm donor treatments have seen heterosexual couples, same-sex couples and single women have the families they’ve always dreamed of.


If you would like to find out how we could help you, please do not hesitate to get in touch today.

Testimonial

- Cara -

I never regret deciding to be a parent alone, I have so much support from family and friends and love every minute of being a mummy. I couldn’t wish for more.

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