Sperm donation has been around for many more years than egg donation. No doubt you have heard about sperm banks, turkey basters, and other assorted terms associated with sperm donation.
Strictly from a reproductive and physiological standpoint, it is obvious why sperm donation is so much more common than egg donation.
The idea of donation, to begin with, is multi-faceted. Some of these topics are covered in the section on egg donation. Primarily when it comes to donor issues, the major concern is the psychological impact it has on the partner whose “specimen” needs to be substituted. The other major issue is what will be disclosed to your children. Please refer to the section on egg donation where these issues are addressed in greater detail.
Using donor sperm is a relatively easy process. Once the woman and her partner select the donor, then your treatment will proceed.
You may already have some idea what the possible treatment options are. This is dependent on the woman’s reproductive health and ability to achieve a pregnancy. Most likely testing has taken place prior to this point so that you will know which procedure will be right for you.
There are various options:
- lUI is when sperm is inserted into the uterus through the vaginal canal via a special catheter. The sperm should then travel on its own up into the fallopian tube which is the ideal location for fertilization to take place.
- In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is when the egg and sperm are brought together in a laboratory in a special medium in a petri dish. The egg needs to fertilize and multiply and will then be placed into the woman’s uterus.
- lCSl is the process by which the sperm is injected into the egg and once the egg fertilizes and multiplies, it is then placed into the woman’s uterus.
The psychological ramifications of using donor sperm should not be overlooked. Perhaps because of the way our society has developed, issues around donor sperm were not fully acknowledged until recently. This has put men who have been in relationships where donor sperm were needed to achieve a successful pregnancy at a disadvantage. The emotional impact on their psyche – or feelings around their virility – were often not recognized. This fact could have far-reaching effects on relationships with partners and relationships with offspring who are products of donor sperm.
It is our goal to assist men, women, and couples who are using donor specimen to have the opportunity to process this impact.
Contact us for support – either in a group setting or for individual support in dealing with issues related to donor factors.