Some people cannot conceive on their own and need a little help to fulfil their dreams of parenthood. In recent years, there has been a significant development in fertility treatment with donor sperm and more and more people become parents with the help of a sperm donor.
Why use donor sperm to get pregnant?
The three main groups who benefit from sperm donation are:
Everyone has different reasons to use donor sperm to get pregnant, follow the links above to read more about each group, their options and things to consider when using donor sperm to fulfil their dreams of parenthood.
Introduction to getting pregnant using donor sperm
Getting pregnant with help from a sperm donor may seem overwhelming and complicated. But, if you take it one step at a time, the journey often feels more manageable. The first thing you need to do is to find a licensed fertility clinic and agree on a treatment plan. Once your treatment plan is ready, you can continue by choosing a sperm donor and begin your treatment. Hopefully, the treatment results in a positive pregnancy test and you can enjoy your pregnancy.
4 steps on your journey towards parenthood
Even though no journey towards parenthood is the same, most people in fertility treatment go through the same steps. Read a detailed description of each step and what to be aware of here below.
1. Find out where to have your treatment
The first step in getting pregnant with donor sperm is to find the right fertility clinic. If you need help, we have a vast network of experienced fertility clinics, and our Customer Care can help you find the right one. Before you consult a doctor, you may want to research the treatment types available to learn about the differences between treatments.
Here below, you can read an introduction to each treatment type. Follow the link in each section to read more about the treatment.
Intra cervical Insemination
Intra cervical Insemination (ICI treatment) is a type of insemination, in which the sperm is inserted with a syringe into the vagina, from where the sperm cells must swim into the uterus. At Cryos Clinic, it is possible to perform ICI treatment with donor sperm yourself or with the help of a partner. Follow the link to read more about ICI treatment at Cryos Clinic.
Intrauterine insemination
Intrauterine insemination (IUI treatment) is a type of insemination performed by a fertility doctor. During IUI, the sperm is injected into the uterus using a plastic syringe. If you are looking for IUI treatment with donor sperm, we now offer this at Cryos Clinic. Follow the link to read about IUI-D at Cryos Clinic.
In vitro fertilization
In vitro fertilization (IVF treatment) is a more complex type of fertility treatment, in which the eggs are retrieved and fertilised with sperm cells, outside the body, in a petri dish. Once fertilised, the eggs develop into embryos. If the eggs develop into high-quality blastocysts, they are transferred to the uterus of the woman carrying the pregnancy. We also perform IVF with donor sperm at Cryos Clinic. Follow the link to read more about IVF at Cryos Clinic.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI treatment) is a variation of IVF, where an embryologist injects a single sperm cell into the extracted eggs, removing all obstacles for the sperm cell. Hopefully, an embryo forms, which then are transferred back into the woman’s uterus.
2. Selecting your sperm donor
When you have found your fertility clinic and know which type of fertility treatment to have, you can start your search for a sperm donor. At Cryos, you have free access to more than 1.000 donors with different Donor Profiles. Sperm donors with a Basic Profile only contain essential information such as eye colour and blood type, while donors with an Extended Profile contain much more information, such as a detailed description of the donor's personality and looks.
When using a donor from a sperm bank, you will not know the identity of the donor, and the donor will not know or be a part of your child’s life. If you choose an ID Release sperm donor your child can contact Cryos to receive their donor's contact information after turning 18. Follow the link to read about ID Release and Non-ID Release Donors.
Choosing a sperm donor may feel overwhelming, as you must consider legal restrictions in your treatment country, your own desire, and the wishes of your future child - we understand this. Therefore, we have created a guide on what to consider when choosing a sperm donor. Follow the link to read it.
Why choose a sperm donor from Cryos?
At Cryos, we would be honoured to help you on your way to parenthood. We have more than 35 years of experience with cryopreservation of sperm, and we have highly skilled employees working to ensure high-quality donor sperm – all the way from donation to delivery at your fertility clinic.
- Our dedicated Customer Care Team is ready to help and support you on your journey.
- We collaborate with professional fertility clinics all over the world.
- You can get free access to see all donor profiles with Cryos.
- You have the option to see our sperm donor photos which show the donors as adults.
- We have very high standards for sperm donor screening and testing of all donors, which gives you the best chance of having a healthy child. Only about 5-10% of all donor applicants get approved with Cryos.
Can I use donor sperm for home insemination?
Some people prefer to receive treatment in their private homes. Cryos International is a sperm bank operating under Danish law, which does not allow the delivery of donor sperm to private addresses for home insemination. As a result, only approved tissue centres, fertility clinics, hospital departments, and authorized healthcare professionals can perform treatment with donor sperm.
3. Order donor sperm for your treatment
When you have found the perfect donor, you can buy the donor sperm needed for your treatment. Some clinics will do this for you, while others recommend that you place your order directly with us. If your fertility treatment has not yet been scheduled, you can also choose to reserve donor sperm for later use. We will then safely deliver your donor sperm to the clinic when you need it.
Visit how to order donor sperm to learn the steps of ordering donor sperm.
The cost of using a sperm donor
Understanding the financial aspect of fertility treatment with donor sperm is important. Different factors impact the total cost, but in general, the most cost-effective treatment options are ICI or IUI.
Here is an overview of the cost of each treatment at Cryos Clinic.
| ICI with donor sperm | IUI with donor sperm | IVF with donor sperm | |
| Starts at | EUR 850 | EUR 1.200 | EUR 4.369 |
Below are some considerations to help limit the cost of fertility treatment with donor sperm:
- The cost of fertility treatments: Research the pricing structure at different clinics. Consider if they offer package deals or any collaboration with sperm banks for potential discounts.
- Sperm donor choice: Another way to reduce the cost is to choose a Non-ID Release Donor with a Basic Profile. The more you want to know about the donor, the higher the price.
- Financial support: Research whether it is possible to receive financial support from the government. Some countries, like the UK, offer financial support to women and couples in fertility treatment.
If you want to read more about the prices of donor sperm at Cryos, you can follow the link to our prices and payment page.
Different types of donor sperm
At Cryos, we offer two types of donor sperm: IUI and ICI. The difference between IUI and ICI is whether the sperm has been prepared for treatment or not. IUI sperm is prepared for treatment, removing all the natural fluids, thus only preserving the sperm cells. ICI sperm, on the other hand, still contains natural fluids from the ejaculate. Most fertility clinics prefer IUI sperm, as it saves time for them. Always ask your clinic about the type of sperm before ordering, as some clinics have specific preferences.
Donor sperm is also categorised according to motility or MOT. Motility is an expression of the quality or concentration of sperm cells in a straw. MOT5 means that there are at least 5 million sperm cells per millilitre. Each straw contains 0.5 millilitres of sperm. As a result, a MOT5 sperm straw contains at least 2.5 million sperm cells. The type of motility you should order depends on the type of treatment you need. Typically, ICI and IUI require a higher MOT than IVF and ICSI. Your fertility clinic will inform you about the type of motility you should order.
4. Receive treatment at your chosen fertility clinic
When it is time for your treatment, your fertility doctor will thaw the frozen donor sperm and complete the procedure. If the treatment is a success, the result will be visible in a pregnancy or blood test after two weeks.
You must register your pregnancy with Cryos, so we can ensure that the national limit of pregnancies by a donor is not exceeded.
Most people need a few rounds of treatment before they receive a positive pregnancy test and after each round, you should consider what to do next. Follow the link to read our blog post on what to do after fertility treatment.
Success rates when using a sperm donor
The success rate depends on various factors such as the woman's age, fertility, and the treatment type. Here is the average success rate for each treatment type for women under 35 years.
| ICI with donor sperm | IUI with donor sperm | IVF with donor sperm | |
| Success rate | Same as IUI | 19.1% | 51% |
| Source | Study from Human reproduction | Danish Fertility Society | Danish Fertility Society |
We are here to help
At Cryos, we are here for you every step of the way - from finding the right donor and clinic to helping you introduce donor conception to your child at an early age.
FAQ's on getting pregnant using donor sperm
Is it safe to use donor sperm?
Yes, it is safe to use donor sperm to get pregnant. All sperm donors at Cryos have been thoroughly screened and tested before being accepted as donors. After they start donating, we continue to test them for infectious diseases regularly to ensure the safety of our customers and future donor-conceived children.
What is donor sperm?
Donor sperm is sperm donated by a man to help others fulfil their dream of a child. The sperm donations are collected in our sperm bank and then processed in the lab to ensure a high-quality product ready for use in fertility treatment.
Are the sperm donors anonymous?
When using a sperm donor to conceive, you will not know the identity of the donor. However, by choosing an ID Release Donor, your child can enquire about the donor's contact information after turning 18.
What are the success rates when using donor sperm to get pregnant?
Your chances of getting pregnant with donor sperm depend on factors such as your age, your general fertility, and the treatment type. Most women need more than one round of treatment before achieving pregnancy with donor sperm. We recommend that you ask your fertility clinic or healthcare professional about their donor sperm success rates.
Follow the link to read our blog post containing 12 tips on how to increase your chances of getting pregnant.