How to find a sperm donor in the UK
If you need help from a sperm donor to enter parenthood, one of the first things you must consider is where to begin your sperm donor search. In the UK, there are multiple options to find a sperm donor. Continue reading to learn about the pros and cons of each option, what to consider, and why you should consider a licensed sperm bank.
Your options when looking for a sperm donor in the UK
Here is an overview of the different options when searching for a sperm donor in the UK. If you want to learn more about each option, our Customer Care Consultants are always ready to answer any questions you might have.
Licensed sperm bank
A licensed sperm bank is the most popular option for people in the UK looking for a sperm donor. By using a sperm donor from a licensed sperm bank, you do not have to worry about the donor's medical history or the risk of transferring diseases to your child, as all donors must complete a thorough screening process. During the process, their sperm quality is also checked, to ensure that all sperm samples are high-quality.
Because of the extensive screening and general standards sperm banks must fulfil, the price for donor sperm is often higher at sperm banks than other alternatives.
Let us help you on your journey to parenthood
At Cryos, we give you full access to see all donor profiles including pictures, voice recordings, handwritten letters, and more. Just create an online account by providing only your name, email, and country. A Cryos account is free and non-binding.
Fertility clinic
An alternative to using an independent sperm bank is to find a fertility clinic with their own sperm bank. Fertility clinics with their own sperm bank must fulfil the same health and safety regulations as sperm banks, meaning that the costs are roughly the same. Some clinics may offer you a better deal if you purchase the treatment and donor sperm from them. If you plan to buy donor sperm from a fertility clinic, you should be aware that most clinics have a lot fewer donors in stock than independent sperm banks.
Using a free sperm donor
Unless you are eligible for fertility treatment through the public healthcare system, treatment with donor sperm is often an expensive option. As a result, some people try to find a free sperm donor on the grey market to ease the financial burden. Using a free sperm donor is not a recommended option, as there are many uncertain factors like sperm quality, the health of you and your child, and legal issues. Follow the link to read more on why using a free sperm donor is a bad idea.
Using a friend (known donor)
The last option is treatment with sperm from a Known Donor. This implies that a woman or a couple finds the man who is going to be the(ir) sperm donor. It might be a friend who wants to help, or maybe you are two people who are not romantically involved but still wish to have a child together. When using a Known Donor, the sperm bank or fertility clinic receives the sperm sample to ensure the sperm quality and prepares the sample for donor insemination or fertility treatment. Not all fertility clinics and sperm banks offer this. Therefore, we recommend doing your research before choosing this option.
Why you should choose a donor from a sperm bank
In this section, we want to explain why you should consider using a sperm donor from a licensed sperm bank to fulfil your dreams of a child.
- Thorough screening process: Using a sperm donor from a licensed sperm bank reduces the risk of transferring diseases to you or your child, as all potential donors must complete a thorough screening process. During the screening process, the donor completes a detailed questionnaire about their family's medical history to establish whether any hereditary diseases run in the family.
- Guaranteed high-quality sperm: All sperm samples are examined and prepared by experienced laboratory employees to ensure that the sperm straws available are high-quality.
- No legal issues: During the screening process, all donors sign documents waiving the parental rights of children born from their donations. As a result, you never have to worry about legal issues when using a donor from a licensed sperm bank.
- Variety of donors: Another reason to choose a donor from a licensed sperm bank is the amount of sperm available and the variety of donors to choose from. At Cryos, our sperm donor search contains more than 1.000 different donors, making it possible for you to find the right donor.
- Experience and customer guidance: Most sperm banks have years of experience with helping people enter parenthood through treatment with donor sperm. At Cryos, we have experienced Customer Care Consultants who can help you navigate the rules of treatment with donor sperm and find the right sperm donor in the UK. They are always available for questions regarding fertility treatment with donor sperm.
Articles relevant for people looking for a sperm donor in the UK
- Can you buy donor sperm for home insemination in the UK?
- How many kids can a sperm donor have?
- What is sperm donor genetic screening?
Finding the right sperm donor for you
With many sperm donors available in the UK, and over 1.000 donors on the Cryos website worldwide, choosing the right sperm donor can feel overwhelming. For our customers, the most popular sperm donor traits are physical characteristics (79%), health history (65%), and the donor's race or ethnicity (59%) when they search for our donors. Depending on your preference you can always pay to access more information about the donors. Read more about the different preferences here.
Personal characteristics
Personal characteristics are crucial in selecting a donor. Regardless of being lesbian or heterosexual couples, our clients often seek a donor with similar physical or personal features as the partner who will not carry the child. Single women also prefer a sperm donor with personal characteristics resembling the personal traits and physical appearance of themselves or a potential future partner.
Medical history
Many clients prioritize the donor's and his family's medical history above all, focusing on minimizing the risk of transferring diseases to their future children.
Sperm motility
Sperm motility is a deciding factor when determining sperm quality, as it describes the number of motile sperm cells in a sperm sample. Different types of motilities are recommended for each treatment method. We recommend MOT5 sperm for IVF with donor sperm and MOT10 for IUI treatment with donor sperm. Therefore, before placing the order, you should check the number of straws available to ensure that you have enough straws for your treatment and possible future siblings. Follow the link to our guide on how to order donor sperm.
Laws and regulations
Before you begin your search, we recommend researching the current laws regarding treatment with donor sperm in the UK. For example, in the UK, only ID Release Donors are allowed. ID Release Donors have agreed to let Cryos release identifying information about them to children conceived from their donations. The children can enquire about the information once they turn 18. If you prefer not to use an ID Release Donor, you can travel to another country to receive treatment (also called fertility tourism). Follow the link to read more about sperm donor anonymity.
Let Cryos help you
If you are in the process of finding a sperm donor in the UK and need help on your journey, please contact us and let our experienced Customer Care Consultants help you.