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Donation

Build your family using a sperm donor

Our comprehensive donation programme can help match you to your ideal donor.

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Is donor conception right for me?

For many people, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, their journey to parenthood is not possible without the help of a sperm donor.

Using donated sperm in your fertility treatment is a significant decision. We're here to support you as you decide whether donor sperm conception is the right choice for you.

Our team of doctors and nurses will be able to advise on the best treatment pathway for you and your family. But we are likely to recommend donor conception if:

You are pursuing solo parenthood
You are a same-sex female couple
Your own sperm is unlikely to result in a successful pregnancy
You are at risk of passing on an inherited disease

Donation

Your journey using sperm donation

Your fertility journey using donor sperm will depend on your personal circumstances and the type of treatment you've opted to have.

However, the process for a typical sperm donor recipient will look a little like this:

Trans couple speaking with a doctor about a fertility assessment and consultation

1. Consultation and assessment

All patients begin their TFP Fertility journey with a fertility assessment and consultation with one of our fertility specialists. Our fertility tests are designed to provide you with a clear overview of your fertility health and allow our doctors to tailor your treatment plan to your specific needs.

2. Decide a treatment pathway

Depending on your circumstances, for example, if you're an LGBTQ+ couple, you may be able to choose between IVF and IUI for your treatment using a sperm donor. Your consultant will be able to make recommendations on the treatment pathway that will maximise your chances of success.

Young women speaking with medical consultant - How much does embryo freezing cost

3. Counselling

You’ll have the opportunity to meet with a specialist counsellor to talk through your thoughts and feelings throughout your fertility journey, as well as the implications of building your family with donor sperm and what this may mean for you and your family in the future.

4. Choose your sperm donor

There are several ways to find your sperm donor - this includes through a licensed fertility clinic or donation bank, or you may wish to use a known donor. At TFP Fertility, our donors undergo in-depth health and fertility testing to ensure their donation is safe to its recipient and any children conceived.

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5. Purchase your sperm

Once you've chosen your donor, you'll be able to purchase the sperm you require. It's important to consider whether you wish to buy more than one sample in the event of unsuccessful treatment or if you wish to try for a sibling in the future. If you've chosen a donor from an external bank, it's also worth considering the cost of shipping the sperm to the fertility clinic before you proceed.

6. Using your donor sperm

When you're ready to start your treatment, your chosen sperm will be safely thawed and prepared by our clinical team.

The right donor for you

Choosing your sperm donor is a deeply personal choice. We're here to offer guidance and support when you need it, but for many patients, it comes down to a feeling when you've found the right donor for you.

When purchasing sperm through a licensed fertility clinic or donation bank, you'll receive information on the donor's hair and eye colour, height and weight, ethnicity and other characteristics such as occupation and hobbies to help you make a decision.

How to find your donor

Choose from your clinic's donation bank

Some fertility clinics have their own donation banks with catalogues of sperm donors for you to choose from. Waiting lists for donors can be lengthy so it's essential to check the current wait times before making a commitment to ensure the estimated wait time aligns with your treatment.

Use a known donor

Some people are fortunate enough to have a friend or family member willing to be their donor. If you wish to use a known donor, they must undergo the same stringent testing as anonymous donors to ensure they are suitable to donate. Additionally, there are restrictions on mixing sperm and eggs between close relatives.

Find donor sperm online

Donor sperm can be purchased from accredited donation banks online shipped to your chosen clinic for treatment. You must ensure your sources are credible and meet the medical and legal requirements for donation. You should also confirm the purchase and shipping costs before proceeding.

Couple receiving emotional support and fertility counseling

Fertility treatment using donor sperm

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

In IVF treatment, your eggs are mixed with donor sperm in a lab and left to develop into mature embryos. Healthy embryos are then transferred to the birth parent during a stimulated cycle.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

If you're using a sperm donor, IUI is a less invasive method for achieving a pregnancy. We inject healthy sperm directly into the womb around the time of ovulation.

Surrogacy

For those using a surrogate, you may require a combination of donor eggs and sperm depending on your circumstances. We'll provide the guidance you need every step of the way.

Frozen embryo transfer (FET)

For some patients, a frozen embryo transfer may be necessary. Our advanced methods of freezing and cooling embryos have helped us achieve exceptional success rates.

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