Sperm donation is a medical procedure enabling individuals or couples to achieve pregnancy when natural conception is not possible or desired. It involves a man voluntarily providing semen for use in assisted reproductive technologies like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). This offers a pathway to parenthood for those facing male infertility, single women, or same-sex female couples.
Donor Eligibility and Screening
Becoming a sperm donor involves a rigorous screening process that ensures the health and safety of both the donor and recipient, and the quality of the donated sample. Only a small percentage of applicants, often around 5-10%, meet the strict criteria.
Prospective donors are generally between 18 and 45 years old, though some banks may have a narrower age range, as sperm quality can decline with age. A comprehensive review of their personal and family medical history (spanning two to three generations) is conducted. This helps identify hereditary conditions or genetic predispositions that could be passed on.
Physical examinations assess overall health. Extensive blood and urine tests screen for infectious diseases, including HIV-1/2, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV-I/II, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Genetic screening tests for carrier traits of common hereditary diseases like cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, hemoglobinopathies (e.g., sickle cell anemia, thalassemia), and Tay-Sachs disease. Donors may also undergo a psychological evaluation to ensure they understand donation implications and are mentally healthy.
The Donation Collection Process
After eligibility, sperm collection occurs at a fertility clinic or sperm bank in a private, sterile room. The standard method for obtaining a sample is through masturbation.
Donors abstain from sexual activity for two to three days before each donation to ensure optimal sperm count and quality. Donations typically occur once or twice a week, sometimes up to three times, depending on sperm quality and clinic requirements. After collection, the sample is immediately labeled and transported to the laboratory for analysis and processing.
Sperm Preparation and Storage
Upon arrival at the laboratory, the semen sample undergoes immediate quality analysis. Key parameters evaluated include sperm count (concentration), motility (ability to move effectively), and morphology (size and shape). A healthy sperm count is typically 15 million sperm per milliliter or more, with good motility and morphology indicating viability.
Following initial analysis, the sperm undergoes a “washing” process. This procedure separates healthy, motile sperm from seminal fluid, non-motile sperm, and other cellular debris. Washing is important because seminal fluid contains compounds that can cause uterine cramping if directly introduced during fertility treatments, and it reduces the risk of transmitting infectious agents.
After washing, cryoprotectants, such as glycerol, are added to the purified sperm sample. These solutions protect sperm cells from damage during freezing by minimizing ice crystal formation and osmotic shock. The sample is then subjected to controlled freezing, gradually lowering the temperature. The cryopreserved sperm is stored in vials, immersed in liquid nitrogen at extremely low temperatures, typically around -196°C (-321°F). At this temperature, biological activity is halted, allowing the sperm to remain viable for many years.
A mandatory quarantine period follows donation, during which frozen sperm samples are held, typically for six months. At the end of this period, the donor undergoes re-testing for infectious diseases to confirm no infections were acquired or developed. Only if these re-test results are negative are the sperm samples released from quarantine and made available for use in fertility treatments.