Using donor sperm for IUI or IVF fertility treatment is much more common than you might think.

About 40% of all reported cases if infertility (trying to get pregnant without success for 6-12 months, depending on age) can be attributed to male factors.

When a male partner is unable to produce enough viable sperm to achieve fertilization of his females partner’s egg, a sperm donor may be used for intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

A sperm donor may also be recommended if a male partner has a genetic disease that he doesn’t want to risk passing on, by single women who want to have a child, or as an LGBT fertility option.

How Sperm Donation Works

Once Dr Morgan has recommended the use of a sperm donor and you and your partner have determined to proceed, our clinical staff will help you coordinate the selection of a donor from a trusted outside company. Once a donor is selected, the sperm will be shipped to our office for storage until your female partner is ready for her procedure (either IUI or IVF).

Who Provides the Sperm?

You have the option of using a known or anonymous donor. If using an anonymous donor, we help coordinate with a trusted sperm bank where registered sperm donors have been per-screened for infections and inheritable genetic diseases. In most cases, it is not difficult for parents to find a donor who looks similar to them.

Those who wish to use a known sperm donor should know that he will be required to undergo a routine psychological consultation as per guidelines recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. This isn’t as much to identify any underlying psychological issues as it is to prepare the donor for long term considerations.

Any children resulting from using a registered sperm donor legally belong to the woman and her partner or spouse. The donor has no legal rights to the child. The same cannot be guaranteed for a family who chooses to use a known sperm donor, however. It should be noted that when a child who was conceived by sperm donation turn 18 years of age, they are legally entitled to learn the identity if they so choose.

The most important thing to remember when considering whether to use a sperm donor in order to become a parent is that you should choose a fertility specialist who is both sensitive to your personal wishes and will also give you a clear picture of your choices so that you can make an informed decision.