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Things You Didn’t Know About Sperm Donation
If you have been struggling with fertility issues you may be considering using donors and in vitro fertilization. Whether you are dealing with a congenital defect, infertility after cancer treatment or other fertility problem egg and sperm donation could be the answer. There are, of course, a few things you should know about the process.
Donor Shortage
Depending on where you live you may find there is a shortage of available donors. For example in the UK, new laws and stricter screening have decreased the number of men seeking out a sperm donor bank. The new laws inform would be egg or sperm donors that upon a child’s 18 birthdays they can request information about the donor. The ability to trace their biological family has been a rising issue among children conceived as a result of donations and the UK hopes to address the issue.
In the US, there are few regulations on sperm or egg donations, at least as far as traceability. This means there are definitely more donors to choose from, however as potential parents you will want to discuss your clinics policy. Some clinics offer voluntary identification, in other words the donor agrees that any children born from their sperm or eggs can contact them once the child reaches the age of 18. This may not be important to all children, but in case it is to yours, it is wise to make allowances for that eventuality now.
Myths
There are a few common misconceptions about sperm and egg donation circulating, and if you are considering these options, it is important you know the truth. Here are a few of the most common myths associated with the process:
Anyone Can Donate- Many people believe that just anyone can pop into a fertility clinic and donate reproductive materials. The truth is every sperm and egg donation goes through rigorous testing. In fact, less than 5% of sperm donations are found to be acceptable for a donor sperm bank. Potential egg donors undergo even more testing, including a physical examination.
Lucrative- the idea that egg and sperm donors are getting rich from their donations is clearly misguided. Sperm donations range from $1- $50 per specimen or a weekly stipend for regular donations which means it can be a nice supplemental income, but will not make donors rich. Egg donors are paid a bit more but the process is much more involved, up to six weeks’ worth of fertility injections and complicated egg removal procedures.
Anonymity
In the United States anonymity of donors is still a very big deal, especially for donations that predate 2000. Several organizations are working to bring donor related children together, not only to answer their burning biological questions but also to prevent accidental incest. During the 80’s there were donors who provided thousands of samples to their respective sperm banks, which in theory could have led to hundreds of live births in a relatively small geographical area. Clinics are working hard today to provide more biological information to donor children including contact information in addition to medical histories.
What to Expect
When you and your fertility expert determine that in vitro fertilization with donor sperm or eggs is required, you will go through a lengthy process. Top clinics will conduct in depth counseling for both you and your potential donor, and as stated above all sperm and eggs go through extensive testing for disease and defect.
In most cases, you will also have access to a physical description and general background information for potential donors. Many people prefer to choose donors with similar physical characteristics as the would be parents, height, hair color, complexion and weight are all valid concerns. You may also want to ask about the success rate for a particular donor, most clinics should be able to provide you with the number of live births. Keep in mind however; if your donor donates to other clinics as well, the numbers could be skewed.
Conclusion
For many couples conceiving a child is there all consuming passion, however their bodies do not always cooperate. In vitro fertilization, artificial insemination and surrogacy are all great ways to overcome fertility issues. Whichever method you choose it is important that you are well informed. You should understand the pros and cons of the procedure as well as consider the feelings of your future child or children.