How to go about selecting donor sperm

23 August 2024

Millie Kanani

How to go about selecting donor sperm

During your initial consultation, you may discuss the option of using donor sperm for treatment. Donor sperm is used in a variety of cases, such as for single women, same-sex couples, and to improve treatment success rates for heterosexual couples. In this article, we hope to answer some of the frequently asked questions relating to fertility treatment with donor sperm.

How to select donor sperm

The Evewell works closely alongside a diverse range of sperm banks within the UK, EU and the US:

• The London Sperm Bank (UK)
• The European Sperm Bank (EU)
• Cryos (EU)
• California Cryobank (US)
• Xytex (US)

When visiting the websites for the above, you will see that you can filter donors by various characteristics – it is entirely your choice how you decide to filter and select, but we are always more than happy to answer any questions during this selection process.

It is worth noting that donor sperm from outside the UK must be compliant with the HFEA regulatory body, so each bank will specify which donors are suitable for treatment within the UK or have a selection of donors that fall under this category.

Donor sperm with carrier mutations

It is mandatory under the licensing of the HFEA regulatory body to ensure the safety of the donor sperm through screenings – these often include Chlamydia, Syphilis, Hepatitis, Gonorrhoea, HIV, and some genetic disorders. If the relevant donor is a carrier for any of these, you will find this to be flagged on the sperm bank website.

If you would like to proceed with a donor who has a carrier mutation, we would just be looking to carry out some additional tests for you, just to check that you are not a carrier for the same mutation (our transports team would be able to discuss any impacts this may have on timeframe or costings).

How much donor sperm to buy

We would always recommend you choose samples with a minimum of 20 million motile sperm per sample. This is often referred to as ‘MOT20’ so you may purchase any sample MOT20 or above. Samples may also be referred to as washed (or IUI) or unwashed (or ICI) samples and either category is suitable. We would always suggest you purchase more than one sample as a backup or for subsequent cycles.

The type and quality and sample to order depends on the treatment you are planning and we are happy to discuss this with you during your embryologist call. For example, if you are planning ICSI, you won’t need a MOT 20 sample, for IUI an IUI ready/washed sample is great, but otherwise, an ICI would be preferable.

When should I be looking to order donor sperm?

Our Transports team advises looking at ordering donor sperm at least four weeks prior to starting the relevant treatment cycle – this is to ensure no treatment delays and the completion of any necessary documentation alongside the physical importation of the samples. Once you have had your initial consultation, your consultant will put you in contact with the relevant team to discuss the timings for this.

How much does it cost to import and store donor sperm?

How The Evewell can help you with donor sperm selection

Selecting donor sperm can be a daunting process, however our team at The Evewell are dedicated to help you throughout this journey by providing you with the information to help you make informed decisions, and can arrange counselling to go through the implications of different treatment options.

There is a lead donor sperm embryologist at each clinic, meaning you will speak with one person who will follow your journey. Our embryologists are happy to arrange free consultations to support the donor sperm pathway and ensure patients are assisted in navigating the bank websites, and understanding the regulations 

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact harleystreettransports@evewell.com or westlondontransports@evewell.com.