Sperm Donation Process
This step-by-step guide explains the donor application process.
Step 1: Your First Appointment
Apply Online
If you are a healthy male aged between 18 and 45, complete the online application form and we'll be in touch. We aim to make you feel as comfortable as possible in a welcoming atmosphere.
Semen Analysis
For the first stage of the application, we will invite you into our clinic for a semen analysis test. So we can analyse your sperm at its best, you will need to abstain from sexual intercourse and masturbation for two to seven days before your appointment. We’ll analyse the sample you produce and let you know whether you can join the donation programme.
We follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to determine if a sample is suitable prior to freezing. We will check your sample for the following;
- sperm count
- sperm motility
- sperm morphology (shape)
- suitability for freezing
Step 2: Medical Screening
Next, we'll ask you to complete a medical questionnaire. This will involve an assessment of your and your family's health and medical history.
Step 3: Registration
If your sperm parameters are suitable and your medical history is suitable, we'll invite you to a registration appointment. You'll complete HFEA consent forms, and provide a blood and urine sample to screen for STIs and genetic conditions.
Step 4: Doctor's Appointment
If your screening comes back clear, you will have two final appointments; one with our doctor and one with our counsellor, to talk through the implications of donating.
Once accepted as a donor, we reimburse a flat fee of £35 per visit to cover any out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of donations.
Step 5: Donate
When and how often?
As a sperm donor, you can visit our clinic in London Bridge to make donations any time during our working hours. You will be asked to donate once or twice a week for a period of three to six months.
We understand that this is not always possible because of holidays, work, or illness. A commitment to making regular donations is important, so keep us informed of your plans. You will need to ensure you have a minimum of 2-7 days of abstinence between donations.
What happens next?
Our lab staff check each donation before freezing it in liquid nitrogen. A small volume is tested again to ensure the freeze was successful and the sample is suitable for storage.
We request that each donor provides a total of about 50-70 viable samples. It is possible that not every sample will be suitable for freezing, so you may need to produce a few more.
Final tests
Your final appointment takes place six months after your last donation and includes a blood and urine test. This quarantine period is legally required to ensure that all samples collected over the donation period are clear of infectious disease. The blood and urine tests are a repeat of the infectious screening tests carried out whilst on the programme every 3 months.
If all is clear, your samples will now be suitable for patient use.
Keeping in touch
Many men wish to know whether their sperm has resulted in conception or live births, and we are happy to keep in touch with you. Please note that we cannot give you identifiable information about the recipient. Please keep us informed of any changes to your family medical history or contact details.