Donor Sperm Treatment Coordination
After meeting with the doctor to discuss your plans, you will meet with the donor sperm team, who will coordinate the process and guide you through each step. Your first appointments will be with the Donor Sperm Coordinator, who will help you understand the process of choosing a donor, and with our fertility counsellor for an implications counselling session to discuss the process of using a donor to build your family.
Choosing a Sperm Donor
As part of the Donor Sperm programme, patients will work with the Donor Sperm Coordinator to use the sperm banks’ databases to choose a donor. Waterstone Clinic uses sperm from identifiable donors from Cyros International Sperm Bank, the European Sperm Bank and American sperm banks.
The donor databases offer profiles of the donors, including demographics (i.e., hair colour, height, race, etc.), and extended profiles provided by the donor.
Who Are The Sperm Donors?
Waterstone Clinic imports sperm from identifiable donors only. (Irish legislation (The Children & Family Relationships Act, 2015) prohibits the use of non-identifiable or “anonymous” donors.)
How Are Sperm Donors Recruited?
All donors have to go through a rigorous screening process. Only 5% of men who apply to become donate are accepted to become donors.
The screening process includes:
- Their medical and sexual history, and a screen of their family’s medical history
- A physical examination
- Blood tests in line with international best practice
After the first screening, potential donors will have their semen and blood tested a second time six months later while all samples are quarantined. When all the screening tests are passed as clear, the potential donor will be accepted onto the programme and become available on the database.
Importation of Donor Sperm
Once you have chosen your donor, the team will import the sperm samples to the Clinic for your treatment. From when you meet the Donor Sperm Coordinator, this process takes a minimum of 3 months. When the sperm arrives, we will let you know so that you can begin treatment as soon as you are ready.