Medical fertility treatments

Men who volunteer to donate sperm in the UK will only be accepted by if they are under 40 years (ideally), have no serious genetic conditions, have no significant medical problems that might be passed on, are on no medication that might affect sperm, have good quality sperm.

All potential donors are screened for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, HIV, Syphilis, Cystic Fibrosis and major chromosome abnormalities.
The sperm samples are frozen and can only be used after 6 months quarantine, when the donor is asked to return to the clinic and be tested again to ensure he is does not have HIV or Hepatitis.

Men who donate sperm in this way sign a legal document to confirm that the have no legal or parental responsibility for any children resulting from the use of the sperm.

The sperm from one donor can be used to create a maximum of 10 families in the UK (to protect against potential consanguinity).
Couples who conceive using donor sperm, may be able to reserve further sperm samples from this donor to use for future treatments to conceive siblings.

Donor matching is usually based around the looks of the male partner when a couple are having treatment. Donors are usually
• matched to have a similar:
• Height
• Build
• Hair colour
• Eye colour
• Skin colour/ethnicity
• Blood group
• CMV status (a common virus to which many people are immune)

The more specific the requirements, the longer it will take to find an appropriate match. Men from certain ethnic and religious backgrounds rarely volunteer as a sperm donor, and these matches can be very difficult to find. Women in a same sex couple can choose any donor, but usually characteristics common to one or both partners are preferred. Single women are free to choose any donor, including one of a different skin colour or ethnic origin to themselves if they wish.

All couples and single women who are considering using donor sperm to help them conceive must speak to a specialist fertility counsellor about their reasons for having treatment, and the potential implications for themselves, their partners, and their extended family and friends. This is particularly important for single women who should ensure that they have thought through the impact that having treatment and raising a child on their own will have on their friends, family, career, relationship and finances. Same sex couples may benefit from legal advice beforehand in relation to shared parental responsibility, especially if they are not married.

All licensed clinics in the UK have a legal obligation to protect the welfare of any children which they help to create, and any concerns must be fully addressed before the decision to proceed with treatment.

The law in the UK changed several years ago to permit any child who knows that they were conceived using donor sperm, to be able to trace their biological father when they reach 16 years of age. This has been a major deterrent for the decreasing number of men considering sperm donation in this country, and has resulted in a donor sperm supply crisis. In addition, some couples prefer to maintain the anonymity aspect of treatment, although psychological studies suggest that children often feel the need to trace their biological roots.

Donor banks in the UK have a shortage of sperm, and sometimes matched sperm that is reserved has been used when a patient needs treatment. Some banks have got round this issue by asking patients to buy a ‘share’ of sperm. Donated sperm used in this way is simply divided into 10 equal shares, and 10 potential families purchase the complete share (usually enough for 10-15 treatment cycles). Obviously this costs more, but a sperm supply is guaranteed for each treatment, and possibly with enough spare for siblings. Miss Matthews can arrange purchase of a sperm share for you but there is often a wait of several months for an appropriate donor, such is the demand.

The sperm donor crisis in the UK has prompted a rise in the number of couples and single women who now approach clinics accompanied by a potential sperm donor who is a friend or relative.

These men are seen privately and in confidence by the Doctor, who will ask detailed questions about their past medical and family history, as they would do with any potential sperm donor. The man must then undergo the routine blood screening tests, and of course have a sperm test, the results of which are given to the gentleman alone, who may divulge them at his discretion, to the potential recipient. The doctor is under no obligation to inform the potential recipient why a potential donor is not suitable. Assuming that there are no concerns at this stage, the donor should then discuss the implications of donation with a specialist fertility counsellor, both alone or with his own partner if he is in a relationship, and then together with the proposed recipient woman or couple.

Sperm donors should ideally be less than 40 years old, but there is no age limit for known donors, however the recipient will be counselled regarding the slight increased risk of fetal abnormalities and miscarriage, and the expected age related deterioration in sperm quality before the decision to proceed, especially if the donor is over 60 years old.

A total of six to eight sperm samples are usually produced on the laboratory premises over several weeks, and these are frozen in 10-15 ampoules that normally contain enough sperm for a single treatment in each. The sperm cannot be used unless the donor returns to the clinic 6 months later for repeat viral screening tests.

Known donors sign a legal form to relinquish all legal and parental responsibility for children that result from treatment, however there are several test cases passing through the courts now where this has been challenged, and if there are any concerns before treatment begins, it may be sensible to seek legal advice.

Miss Matthews can arrange known donation. The sperm will be stored and used at a nearby licensed centre.

The HFEA will permit the import of sperm samples from approved clinics abroad on a named patient basis, i.e. a patient purchases the sperm themselves from the sperm bank for use only by themselves, and this sperm is transferred following special application to the HFEA, to a licensed centre in the UK. This process is economical only if the patient is willing to bulk purchase enough sperm for 10-15 treatment cycles (10-15 ampoules), and the sperm donor must be traceable in accordance with current UK legislation. The majority of reputable sperm banks have excellent websites that provide detailed information about their available donor sperm samples. Most sperm banks in the USA are not approved by the HFEA. The majority of sperm imported into the UK now comes from Norway. Miss Matthews can arrange the submission of an application and importation of sperm for storage at a nearby licensed clinic at your request.

Rapid access to appropriately screened and matched donor sperm for either insemination treatment, or as is more often the case, for IVF treatment, can be arranged through a fertility clinic abroad. The costs of travel to the USA are usually prohibitive compared with the services available in Europe. Several reputable Danish and Belgian clinics are attracting business from single women and couples who have scans in the UK whilst preparing for treatment, and then simply fly to the centre, often relatively cheaply these days, on the day of the insemination, or on the day beforehand. Miss Matthews can perform the treatment scans for any patient having this type of treatment. Alternatively, particularly for IVF when donor sperm is required, Miss Matthews has a formal satellite arrangement with one of the leading university clinics in Spain (www.dexeus.com), and can liase with them on your behalf to arrange all aspects of the treatment for you.