The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Sperm Donor - 5 Tips

In this guide, we will cover the 5 most important things to think about when you choose your sperm donor:

• Check the legislation in your country
• Decide the main criteria for your sperm donor
• Decide the level of information you want about the donor
• Consider if your child should have the possibility to contact the donor (sometimes depends on the legislation in the country where you are having treatment)
• Make sure that the donor has enough straws available for your treatment

1. Check the legislation in your country

The first thing you should think about is probably not the most fun part, nevertheless, necessary. All countries have legal requirements when it comes to sperm (and egg) donors. Some countries allow you to use an ID Release donor (potential future contact), while in other countries you can only use a Non-ID Release donor (no contact). Likewise, some countries only allow you to choose a donor with basic information available. The easiest way to know what the rules are in your country is to speak to your fertility clinic about the options in your country.

2. Decide the main criteria for your sperm donor

What are the basic criteria that your donor must fulfil? This could be regarding ethnicity, eye colour, hair colour, etc. However, try not to establish too many criteria, to begin with. You will have the option to narrow it down at a later stage. If you start with too many criteria concerning education, hobbies, height, weight, etc., you may find yourself in a situation with a limited field to choose from. Try to figure out what is really important to you and move on from there.

3. Decide the level of information you want about the donor

Next up: how much information you want about your donor. You have the option of either choosing a Basic or Extended sperm donor profile.

A Basic Profile contains information such as the donor’s ethnicity, eye colour, hair colour, height, weight, employment and blood type. If you don’t consider much information a plus, but only need the basics or/and if you want to keep the costs down, a Basic Profile may be the right choice for you.

If you need more information to make the right decision, you can go for an Extended Profile. In addition to the information in the basic profile, you also get a sound recording of the donor’s voice, child photos of the donor, a personality test, a handwritten letter from the donor and his answers to a range of personal questions about hobbies, interests etc.

If you can’t get enough information, and you really want the full picture of your donor it is now also possible for you to get access to pictures of our sperm donors were some have photos of themselves as an adult. The opportunity to see both childhood and adult photos of your sperm donor equips you with a more comprehensive idea of who your sperm donor is. It can also give you an idea of the possible features of your future child.

“The photos of the donors as children are a plus, but the photos of the donors as adults give you a more concrete and real impression. It brought me a personal feeling, which I think is also important in this particular choice. In addition, I personally want to be able to provide as much information as possible to my future child, if it comes to be important for her later. 

And then in life, it is normal to choose your partner, so why should it be different for this important choice?”

- Marie, France

4. Consider whether your child should have the possibility to contact the donor

One of the most important choices you have to make is whether your child should have the option to contact the sperm donor when he or she turns 18. In some countries, this is given because only one or the other option is allowed. At Cryos, a donor with no possibility for contact is called a Non-ID Release donor, and a donor with the possibility for future contact is called an ID Release donor. With an ID Release donor, your child will have the opportunity to have the donors name, date of birth and last known address provided at Cryos when he or she turns 18. That is if he or she wants to. We know that to some, knowing more about their genetic heritage becomes very important. To others, there is no need to know about the donor. If you do not want your child to have the option to seek contact, you can choose a Non-ID Release donor. Then, no one will ever be able to obtain more information about him than provided in the donor profile.

5. Make sure that the donor has enough straws available for your treatment

Lastly, make sure that the donor you have decided upon has enough straws for your entire treatment. Most people need a few treatments to get pregnant. Therefore, it can be a good idea to reserve some extra straws for your entire fertility treatment. Reserving sperm straws costs a little extra, but it is definitely worth it if you are set on a specific donor.

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We hope that you are now better equipped to start your search for the right sperm donor. If you have questions or need further guidance, you can now book a free call with one of Cryos' Customer Care Consultants at a time that suits you. We are ready to help you.