FAQs
Who can become a sperm donor?
Donors must be aged 18 to 38 years, produce good quality semen and have no evidence of any hereditary illness or sexually transmissible disease. The upper age limit allows donations to be completed prior to the donor reaching the maximum acceptable age of 40 years.
Why are semen donors needed?
There is a shortage of Australian sperm donors. Donors fulfill a vital role in helping some people with fertility problems have children. The semen is used for artificial insemination or in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Donors of all shapes, sizes and nationalities are needed so that we can match their physical and racial characteristics with recipients. So if you know of others who may be interested, please talk to them.
Do I get paid to donate sperm?
We do not expect sperm donors to be out of pocket for traveling expenses, parking, etc. Therefore, all sperm donors are reimbursed $100 for each sperm donation. $50 of the expenses will be paid at the time of each sample collection and the remaining $50 will be held on account to be paid at the time the six (6) month screening is conducted that releases the semen from quarantine for our use. Payment is made in cash.
A referral from your GP is advisable.
What is the legal status of paternity?
The welfare of a child conceived using donated semen is of paramount importance. Furthermore, a child conceived using donated semen is legally deemed to be the child of the recipient(s), and the donor has no legal rights or responsibilities regarding the child.
Laws which pertain to Donor Insemination are defined in NSW State Legislation and we feel it is important that you are made aware of the relevant section. Please read the following paragraphs from The Status of Children Act, 1996:
14. Presumptions of parentage arising out of use of fertilisation procedures
1. When a married woman has undergone a fertilisation procedure as a result of which she becomes pregnant:
a) her husband is presumed to be the father of any child born as a result of the pregnancy even if he did not provide any
or all of the sperm used in the procedure, but only if he consented to the procedure.
2. If a woman (whether married or unmarried) becomes pregnant by means of a fertilisation procedure using any sperm obtained from a man who is not her husband, that man is presumed not to be the father of any child born as a result of the pregnancy.
Is my information made available to any resulting children?
The Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, 2007 has recently been passed in NSW and will commence on January 1, 2010. A Central ART Registrar will be maintained by the NSW Director General and people born as a result of donor conception will have access to identifying information about their donors once they turn 18 years of age.
If any of the above makes you or your partner or your children feel uncomfortable about being a donor, then it is unlikely that you will be a suitable candidate. However, you may still choose to discuss the legal and social implications surrounding sperm donation at an interview with a counselor.
What is the maximum number of pregnancies from my donated sperm?
as of January 1, 2010 the maximum number of women who may use your donated sperm to achieve a live birth is five (5). However, if any of these successful women wish to use your sperm again for a subsequent attempt at a pregnancy then they may do so if the sperm is available. This gives them the opportunity to have full sibling children. Your sperm can be cryopreserved and stored for use in a treatment cycle up to a maximum of ten (10) years.
Can children conceived using my donor sperm contact me in the future?
The Assisted Reproductive Technology Act (ART), 2007 was recently passed in NSW and commenced on January 1, 2010. A Central ART Registrar is now maintained by the NSW Director General and people born as a result of donor conception will have access to IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR DONORS once they turn 18 years of age.
If any of the above makes you or your partner or your children feel uncomfortable about being a donor, then it is unlikely that you will be a suitable candidate. However, you may still choose to discuss the legal and social implications surrounding sperm donation at an interview with our counselor.
How many donations do I need to give? How often?
At each donation, the semen sample will be mixed with a special solution to protect the sperm during cooling. The semen is stored in plastic straws that each contain 0.5ml. Generally there will be 5-8 straws placed in storage from each donated sample.
We will expect to make maximum use of each donor i.e. pregnancies to 5 women. On average it requires 4 cycles of insemination to achieve a pregnancy. Two straws are used in a cycle of insemination. Using these numbers as a guide, Fertility First limits the amount of semen stored for each donor to a maximum of 100 straws.
What is involved with the screening process?
One or two semen samples are checked to determine semen suitability and whether it will adequately survive freezing and thawing. A sample is sent to pathology and cultured for evidence of bacterial infection, mycoplasma and ureaplasma. A urine sample is tested for gonorrhea and Chlamydia.
A blood sample is taken for the following tests:
- full blood examination (including blood group and screening for thalassemia);
- assessment of the number and condition of your chromosomes (a genetic ‘karyotype’)
- screening for infectious diseases such as HIV (the AIDS virus), syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C;
- screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier status. One in 25 people are a carrier for CF, and since some recipients may be carriers, donors are screened so that any resulting children are not afflicted with cystic fibrosis, which can be life threatening.
Are there any health issues I should inform about before donating?
- You contract a cold, the flu or a more serious illness. Your health may affect your semen quality.
- You start taking drugs or medication of any kind.
- You and/or your sexual partner(s) contract an infectious disease such as HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, herpes, gonorrhea or chlamydia, either while you are an active donor or after you stop donating.
- You, your children or anyone in your family is diagnosed with a congenital or hereditary disease or illness, either while you are an active donor or after you stop donating.
Why is my semen quarantined for 6 months before use?
Cryopreserved donor sperm cannot be used unless the donor remains infection free six months after the sperm was donated, eg. If the initial donation is made in JANUARY 2009, the donor will need to repeat blood, urine and semen tests in JULY 2009 to clear the sperm from quarantine.
We require you to attend the clinic for repeat blood, semen and urine tests to clear your sperm donation. We must stress the importance of returning for tests so that your sperm can be used. Without repeat screens the semen cannot be used for insemination.
Every six months the tests will need to be repeated if you continue to donate. The laboratory will advise you when these need to be done.
What level of consent do I need to give around use of my semen?
The Assisted Reproductive Technology Act requires that every semen donor signs consent and declaration forms. The consents are agreements to donate and to have sperm cryopreserved.
Lifestyle declarations are necessary as the lifestyle of some in the community may increase their risk of contracting diseases that could infect the recipients and any children conceived. If you have participated in a possible high risk activity (eg. intravenous drug use, male to male sex) in the last 12 months, your donated sperm will be quarantined for 12 months rather than 6 months. Donors may be asked to reaffirm the lifestyle declaration during the course of their donations.
Donors who consent are provided with copies of the signed consent forms, which must be signed in the presence of a medical
practitioner. Consent must also be obtained from your spouse or partner (if relevant).
Can I revoke my consent at any stage?
A donor may at any time prior to the use of his semen, vary or revoke his consent by notice in writing to the Medical Director of the facility where they donated. If consent is revoked, the clinic is required to dispose of any remaining samples.
What are the absolute requirements of becoming a sperm donor?
- You will be required to sign a lifestyle declaration.
- There must be no family history of the following;
Muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease, Tay Sach’s disease, Colour blindness, Hemophilia, Neurofibromatosis, Parkinsonism, Multiple sclerosis - Your sperm must survive the freezing and thawing process.
Not all men’s sperm survives the freezing process, even though the sample may be perfectly normal when fresh. Out of every 10 men who express interest in being a donor, only a few will go onto do so, primarily for this reason. Sperm is stored at –196°C. As water makes up a large percentage of human cells it can expand or form crystals during the freezing process and damage the cell. Only by doing a trial freeze and thaw of a sample of semen can we know what will happen with your semen.
What are the important legal and social issues?
It is important that you have thought about all the issues below prior to becoming a donor. The role of the counselling and clinical interviews is to ensure that these issues have been discussed to your satisfaction prior to becoming a donor.
The NSW Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2007 and The Reproductive Technology Regulation 2009
The NSW Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2007 and The Reproductive Technology Regulation 2009 sets out guidelines on semen donation. A copy of the Act, and the standards and codes of practice adopted by or referred to in the regulations are available for inspection during normal working hours at Fertility First.
Recipients of Donated Semen
Fertility units are required by law not to discriminate on the grounds of marital status or sexual preference who they treat. In States that have such legislation, legal challenges have been successful. Therefore, fertility treatments are available to single women and single sex couples as well as heterosexual couples. These women wish to use the services of a Fertility Unit so they and their potential child have access to the medical and social safeguards that are put in place for people using donated gametes.
Recipients may be given non-identifying information about donors before they commence treatment.
How are the semen samples collected?
Donors attend the Fertility First laboratory at 52 Gloucester Road, Hurstville. Samples can be produced during the week from 7.30am to 2.00pm. An appointment is necessary. Please phone the laboratory on (02) 9586 3311.
We ask that you abstain from intercourse and masturbation (ejaculation) for at least 2-3 days prior to producing each sample so that your semen is of optimal quality.
Samples must be produced by masturbation without using lubricants and must be collected into the sterile containers provided. Magazines (e.g. Penthouse) are supplied for use in the collection rooms.
What are the interviews for when becoming a donor?
An interview will be conducted for the assessment, counseling and screening of prospective donors. The interviews will involve a session with the Counselor and Dr Anne Clark, the Fertility First Medical Director, to discuss the personal, social, and legal aspects of the donation.
If you are married or in a de facto relationship, your partner will also need to attend the counseling and medical interviews. We will need your Medicare number so that, where appropriate, consultations and screening tests may be billed at NO CHARGE to you.
Medical, social, sexual and family histories are required to determine your suitability as a donor. Physical characteristics are recorded e.g. eye and hair colour as well as information about your personality, interests, hobbies, education, occupation etc. It is also necessary for you and your partner (if applicable) to have a urine and blood test which screens for infections (such as HIV antibodies: AIDS), Hepatitis B and C, genetic diseases (such as Cystic Fibrosis), Venereal Disease, Blood Group and Rhesus Factor.
Can I be a known donor?
Yes you can. When considering becoming a known donor people usually have a recipient in mind i.e. someone they know.
We use known donors all the time. The recipient and the donor let us know of their situation. The recipient and partner and known donor and partner all need to attend counseling before the process. There is then a cooling off period. After this donations can commence.
Known donors are not compensated monetarily. The known donor need to privately come to an agreement with the recipient about who covers the costs for his tests, appointments and freezing etc.
The number of freezes depends on the treatment of the recipient; also if the recipients are two females both requiring treatment. Once the donations have been made the sperm is placed into quarantine as per standard timings.
- Click here to download a fact sheet about becoming a known donor
- Click here to download the clinical pathway known donors and recipients are given
40 Responses to this article
How do you ensure men say the truth re:de facto relationships? Can you check via Medicare card at least?
Hi Edith,
There is no way of officially checking if a person is telling the truth about current relationships. We do expect them to tell the truth and involve the partner in the counseling and initial screening bloods.
Hi, Any chance I can be a known donor ?
Thanks
Yes Victor you can be a known donor. I have added information about this process as the last FAQ above. You can download 2 information sheets on this process above also. If you would like to discuss this further please call us on 02 9586 3311.
hi i am 45 in october am i to old to donate
Unfortunately after the age of 38 DNA fragmentation of semen increases dramatically. This means there is both less chance of having viable sperm and a higher risk to the potential child if a pregnancy does occur. For this reason most Fertility clinics will not take donors older than 38. You can read about DNA fragmentation at http://malereproduction.com/male-infertility/scsa/
Is there any chance one of the nurses could participate in the sperm collection process?
No. While this may happen in some movies it definitely does not happen in real life.
Do you have to be an permanent australian resident to donate sperm?
Legally no. Clinics have a responsibility to stay in contact with you and so would need to collect your contact information and you will need to wait for quarantine to clear before your donation can be used. This involves getting a clearance checkup in 6 months from donation.
Hi if you donate is it possible to have some of your own sperm saved for your own peace of mind just in case you need it yourself in the future? thanks
Yes of course. There are some costs involved however if you become a donor this cost may be covered by the clinic. at Fertility First the costs are around $150 for the freeze and $150 every 6 months for a 10 year minimum.
Hi, just wondering how frequently I would be able to provide donations and also whether the donor is paid for the initial screening process?
Thanks
Donors are paid for out of pocket expenses. Once you pass a series of screening tests you will be able to donate. You will then need to pass the screening again in 6 months. Call us to discuss all the details.
I am exceptionally intelligent, attractive and fit (not to mention tall, healthy and witty). Surely the rules can be bent a little so that I may donate my far superior seed on a weekly basis.
Give us a call, pass the appropriate screening health tests and you can. There is a limitation on the use imposed by the government however, so you should also ask them.
Hi i what do i have to bring along with me when i come to donate
Just yourself and your I.D. You will need to make an appointment before you come in also.
So, do you only get paid for the first time? You don’t get paid every time you donate?
The misconception about sperm donation is that you can walk in each month, donate and get paid. In reality you need to go through counseling, have health screenings and wait for your bloods to be cleared. For this reason we get you to donate a number of times in the course of a week or two and you get paid for out of pocket expenses for each sample provided. This works out to be a little over $1,000 as a combined total.
Hi, im 17.
Im sure i have a good sperm count. Im healthy, good muscle mass, physically active (running, swimming), and good looking.
Because of my age, am i not allowed to donate? or must i wait till im 21?
Hi Jono, you have a great attitude. Our preference is for people to be 21 but it depends on the level of emotional maturity someone has. Technically you only have to be 18 to be a sperm donor so you could certainly start the process by talking to one of our counselors now who will help you make the right decision.
Hi,
I am 23 years old boy from Bangladesh. I am an overseas student here and I have my MediBank up to date. Can I be a donor..?
Hi Kopa, yes. Call us to discuss your situation and organise a screening test on 02 9586 3311.
Hi,
Do women select sperm based on profiled information about the donor or is it more a luck of the draw?
And if so what information?
For example: race, height, relationship status, religeon, education, a photo of the donor etc…
Hey Col, yes women or couples get to choose from profiled information about the donors. The level of information varies in different clinics.
I was just wondering, are any Australian donors available to choose from through the Xytex.com website. I am looking to use your service to conceive with a donor, but the Xytex website only seems to have every other country bar Australia.
Hi Ashley, Fertility First currently has 2 local Australian donors available to choose from. Xytex does not have Australians donor’s as the sperm bank is located in America and they recruit donors who live in America regardless of their ethnicity. For more info call us on 02 9586 3311.
Hello Dr. Clark,
I am an international student. Could i become a donnor?
Regards,
Lee
Yes. You will need to pass a series of screening tests like anyone else and be contactable for 6 – 12 months. Please call one of our qualified nurses on 02 9586 3311 to discuss.
Hey there
was wondering if it’s possible to bring your own material to use as I am a gay man and penthouse does not float my boat…?
Hi, we do cater for gay men but you are also welcome to bring your own printed material if that would make you feel more comfortable.
As a donor, will we know if our sperm has successfully been used for a live birth? Or is the only way to know if we get a letter in 18 years?
I presume with the 5 family limit, repeat donors would eventually know that they have that many children out there?
Donors are able to ask us for updates and we can tell them how many women have had a pregnancy using their sperm, the number of live births, the sex and year of birth.
Hello, I am 5 foot 4 inch international student. I am from South Asia. Is this possible to donate sperm here in Australia or i should have Permanent residency ? If i can do so, where do i need to contact first? As an international student i don’t have enough money to spend, do i need to spend money if i want to donate sperm?
Hi, yes you can donate sperm! There are a few steps involved in the initial screening but your medical expenses and travel to and from the clinic will be re-reimbursed. Please contact us directly to discuss a consultation on 02 9586 3311.
What do the children conceived usually do when they get the donor’s information. I am a bit scared because I have heard stories that they want their biological father (ie the donor) to help them financially when their parents were injured , divorced etc.
Hi John, we cannot say exactly what will happen but as a donor you have no legal or financial obligations whatsoever to any children conceived through IVF. They have the right to know who the donor was but that is the extent of the relationship unless both parties choose otherwise.
Hi I am 39, is it too late for donation? I am healthy anyway.
Hi Puneet, from 38 onwards there are signs of DNA fragmentation in sperm. But it is worth contacting us to discuss this with one of our staff.