You Most Asked Questions About Sperm Donation Answered

Want to donate sperm this year? If you’re planning to become a sperm donor in 2020 or are even just curious about what’s involved, you’ll no doubt have a few questions!

So here are the most common questions that men ask us about donating sperm. Have a read through, learn more about sperm donation and see if what you want to know is answered here.

If not, then get in touch with our friendly Semovo team on 0345 266 1272, or email donate@semovo.co.uk. We’re always happy to help and will give you all the information you need if you’re interested in donating sperm.

How much do sperm donors get paid?

In the UK you aren’t paid for your sperm, what you receive is compensation. You’ll receive £45 per clinic visit, which is designed to cover any expenses associated with donating, such as travelling to our sperm bank.

You’ll start to receive this after your medical screening and counselling, and will then get compensation every time you call in to donate. Each time you’ll receive £35 of your expenses in cash with £10 accrued, which will all be paid to you after your final screening when all your sperm is released for treatment use.

Where can I donate sperm?

At Semovo we make it really easy and convenient to donate sperm. We have six local and accessible donation locations across the UK, so there’s likely to be a Semovo sperm bank near to where you live or work.

Our sperm banks are in Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester city centre, Manchester South, Glasgow and London. You can donate at any of our sperm banks, whenever it suits you best.

You can learn more about this process in detail here.

What is a semen analysis?

A semen analysis is performed early in the sperm donation process, as we need to check that you have the right quality of sperm for donation.

It involves you giving us a sample of your sperm. We then look at your sperm under the microscope in our laboratory, to assess its ability to fertilise an egg. We look at things like sperm count, movement and shape and how many of your sperm are live.

Sperm for donation has to be the highest quality, so people using it to try for a baby have the best chance of pregnancy.

What health tests do I need to have?

Your health screening involves blood and urine tests to check that your sperm doesn’t pose a health risk to the person using your sperm or any baby she has. We test for things like HIV, Hepatitis, STIs and various genetic conditions.

How many times do I have to donate sperm?

We ask that you donate sperm once a week, for up to six months – so around 20-30 donations in total. This is so we have enough sperm to help all the people who may choose you as their donor.

What happens to my sperm after donation?

Every sperm donation you give is quality checked and then frozen in liquid nitrogen. It’s stored in our laboratory until someone wants to use your sperm to have a baby. When this happens, your sperm is thawed and checked again, and prepared for use in fertility.

How will I know if my sperm’s been used by someone?

We’ll be able to tell you if your sperm has helped someone to have a child, and can tell you the gender of the baby and the year of birth. Many of our sperm donors say that this is the best part of sperm donation!

How many children can be born from my sperm?

In the UK sperm donors can help to create a family for up to 10 individual patients only. Women who use your sperm to have a baby can also choose to use your sperm again for a sibling child.

Can I donate sperm anonymously?

UK sperm donors cannot donate anonymously. Although you’re anonymous to the person using your sperm, this anonymity doesn’t apply to their child. This gives donor-conceived people the chance to find out who their donors are, if they want to know, and to trace their biological origins.

A person born from your sperm can apply to UK fertility regulator the HFEA for identifying information about you when they reach the age of 18. We’ll talk to you in detail about this as part of your counselling session, which happens before you start donating.

Am I liable in any way for the children I help to be born?

No, men who donate to a licensed sperm bank such as Semovo are sperm donors only. You have no responsibility, financial or legal obligation for any child that’s born. You are not considered the child’s legal parent.

This protection is one of the great reasons to donate to a sperm bank if you want to help someone to have a child, rather than make your own private donation arrangements.

Want to know more about sperm donation?

What is the sperm donation process? Donating sperm involves Five simple steps:

• 1. Fill in our online application form here
• 2. We’ll invite you to your nearest clinic for a chat and to take a semen sample for analysis
• 3. If your semen analysis is good, you then come in and see a doctor for a consultation, to go through your medical history and for your health screening tests. You’ll also have counselling as part of the process.
• 4. You’ll also complete your sperm donor profile, to help people choose you as their donor.
• 5. Your first sperm samples are kept in quarantine for six months. You’ll be re-screened and if clear, these initial samples of sperm can be released for patient use. People can now choose you as their donor. You can now start donating!

Give us a call on 0345 266 1272 or read more sperm donor FAQs here or fill in our online form here. And we will be in touch to tell you more.