OVERVIEW :
The process of sperm donation is one wherein the semen donated by a man helps in conceiving a baby, either by an individual or a couple. Semen is the fluid containing sperm that is released during ejaculation.
Once the sperm is donated by the donor, it is preserved in a specially created environment. Donated sperm can be used to fertilize mature eggs in a lab which is known as in-vitro fertilization or injected into a woman’s reproductive organs which are known as intrauterine insemination. The donor can be both, known to the recipient or anonymous to the recipient.
PROCEDURE :
A man choosing to undergo the procedure of sperm donation needs to be well-versed about the long term implication of this decision and should be mentally and physically fit and capable of examining all the factors.
Before the donation –
- Before the process of sperm donation, a doctor examines the physical and psychological health of the donor which involves recording his age, weight, physical exam, medical history, previous surgeries, allergies, family history of any diseases, etc. which helps the doctor in thoroughly determining if the donor is fit for donation or not.
- The donor is also supposed to undergo certain blood tests which can help in determining his health status in a better way. He is required to provide blood samples, urine samples. If the person becomes an official donor, he is required to undergo all these tests every 6 months.
- Before becoming an official sperm donor, the person has to give many semen samples. These samples are tested for quality, quantity, and movement. The fertility criteria for a man to be declared fertile include the score of more than 15 million sperm count per milliliter of a sperm sample. Also, the sperm should have a normal structure and shape, and above 40% of the sperm should be moving.
- The man is required to provide a complete detailed history of all his sexual activities. Besides this, he is also required to disclose any addictions like smoking, drug abuse, alcohol, etc. which are needed to assess to see if the man is at any risk of developing an infectious disease or a chronic disease.
During the donation –
- The donation process takes place at an assigned sperm bank.
- The donor is provided with a sterile container and is sent to a private room where he is required to masturbate and collect his semen in the container.
- The container is then stored in a special environment created to keep it safe.
After the donation –
- The sample given by the donor is preserved and frozen for at least 180 days before it can be used. It is also tested to rule out the possibility of any kind of infectious disease.
- If the sample successfully survives for 180 days and is free of any kind of infection, the person becomes a sperm donor.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SPERM DONOR?
In order to choose the best sperm donor, the first step is to find a fertility centre that can help you further in the whole process. The fertility centre then provides the list of sperm banks providing high-quality sperm samples. The individual or couple can then talk to the sperm bank to give them all the necessary information to make the best choice. These factors contribute to the process of choosing the best donor.
- Understanding donor’s medical history- You are also free to ask about all the medical records of the sperm donor which can be used in evaluating and deciding the best donor.
- Physical traits- In certain cases, if the couple or individual requires their baby to have certain physical traits, they can check the donor’s pictures to decide if he is the right option for them or not.
While the whole process of sperm donation and conceiving a baby through this procedure can be extremely tedious and overwhelming, the first step is to choose the right fertility centre which will assist and support you through this journey.
Yashoda IVF Centre is an Advanced & State of Art Fertility & IVF Centre in Kamothe which has been serving people for more than 10 years. We are the best fertility centre in Mumbai with the best health professionals and caretakers.