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Sperm and Egg Donors FAQ

Answering most frequently raised questions & concerns!

How are donors screened?

Reputable international donor banks carry out extensive screening, which typically includes:
• Medical history: family health records, physical exam.
• Genetic testing: screening for inherited conditions.
• Infectious disease testing: HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, and other STIs. Some sperm and egg banks also test for CMV (Cytomegalovirus), and in certain countries such as the UK and Italy, CMV testing is mandatory.
• Psychological assessment: ensuring the donor understands the process and is mentally prepared. Some banks have external psychologists to perform the donor evaluation.
• Lifestyle evaluation: habits like smoking, drug use, or alcohol intake.

Sperm and/or egg quality: all donors are tested for t quality of their gametes, which is why there is why there is an age limit for donors. The exact age limit can vary from country to country. Sperm donors leave samples for testing, while egg donors have their AMH and scanning done to check for quality and volume of their egg reserve. Because donors must meet all health requirements, the above screening criteria often lead to rejection. As a result, most banks accept only 5–8% of all donor applications.

This varies by gamete bank, but may include:
• Physical characteristics: height, weight, hair, eye colour, blood type.
• Ethnic and cultural background.
• Education, career, hobbies, and personality traits.
• Photos: many gamete banks provide childhood photos, while some also include adult photos.
• Audio interviews or written essays to give insight into the donor’s personality.
• Banks usually distinguish between basic and extended donor profiles. Extended profiles include a wide range of information, while basic profiles usually provide only physical characteristics. The type of profile is often linked to whether the donor is ID Release or Non-ID Release.

Non-ID Release donors: A Non-ID Release donor is a donor whose identity will never be disclosed by the gamete bank. Neither you nor your child will be able to access personal or contact information about the donor, as the donor has chosen not to be available for contact with the offspring later in life, In some gamete banks, this type of donor is also referred to as an anonymous donor

ID Release (or Open ID) donors: An ID Release (or Open ID) donor is a donor whose identity can be disclosed once the child reaches legal age (usually 18). At that point, the donor’s personal information becomes available to the offspring, allowing them to initiate contact if they wish. The donor has agreed to the possibility of being contacted in adulthood, but any future relationship is voluntary and depends on both parties.

Regulations differ by country. In some countries (e.g. the UK, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, and Australia), all donors must be identifiable by law. In contrast, other countries require donors to be Non-ID Release (e.g. Spain, Italy, most of Eastern Europe, as well as many APAC and LATAM countries). A smaller group of countries allows both types of donors, leaving the choice to donors and recipients (e.g. Denmark, Greece, Iceland, and the USA).

Our counsellors can guide you through the regulations in different countries, helping you make informed decisions about the type of donor and where to seek fertility treatment.
https://www.spermandeggdonors.com/sperm-egg-donor-counselling/

Many patients choose international banks to access a wider pool of donors or specific ethnic backgrounds. However, local laws and regulations may restrict which donors can be imported and used for treatment in a given country. Some countries have strict limits regarding donor ID, family quotas for each donor or restrictions on who can have access donor treatment depending on your civil status (e.g. if single, a same-sex couple, married/non-married).
Shipping costs and logistics can add to the complexity of the process. Our FC counsellors can help clarify what’s possible where you live, or if you are interested in travelling elsewhere, where you can receive treatment with a donor of your choice.

Things to consider when selecting what donor bank to contact and purchase donor sperm or egg samples from:

  • Size and diversity of their donor base.
  • Screening standards and transparency of results e.g. genetic diseases and family history.
  • Availability of Non-ID Release or ID Release donors.
  • Costs: including purchase price, shipping, and potential storage of extra sperm or egg donor samples at the bank.
  • Availability of transparent customer information e.g. on pricing, terms and conditions as well as the quality and accessibility of customer care.
  • Legal compliance with your country’s regulations e.g. family limits.
  • The banks collaboration with clinics in your country of treatment or with the clinic of your choice.

Sperm: prices usually range from €500–2.000 per vial/straw, plus shipping.

Eggs: prices generally range from € 4.000–20.000 per cohort (usually  6-8 oocytes/eggs, which is the standard at most egg banks), The exact price depends on whether the eggs are fresh or frozen, and on the donor’s profile, plus shipping.
Additional costs may include clinic fees, medications, legal services and storage if needed.

The price of donor samples largely  depends on the donor type (ID Release vs. Non-ID Release) and whether the profile is extended or basic. In general, donor samples  from the US based donor banks are more expensive than those from international banks elsewhere.

Parental rights: All internationally operating donor banks require their donors to waive any parental rights. Likewise, in most countries where donor fertility treatments are allowed, local regulations protect donors by ensuring that recipients cannot make parental claims against them.

Donor limits: Some countries restrict the number of families a single donor can help. In addition, some donor banks have their own policies that limit how many families a donor can help, locally and/or worldwide.  

Other aspects: Some countries have restrictions on the types of donor treatments allowed in terms of ID Release or not, the age in which you can have donor treatment, or your civil status (e.g. single, in a same-sex relationship, married/non-married).
We offer counselling on such questions to address your individual needs and expectations: https://www.spermandeggdonors.com/sperm-egg-donor-counselling/

Disclosure: Consider how and if you wish to share donor-conception information with your child. The recommendation and tendency are towards openness, encouraging parents to tell children about their biological and genetic origin. At the same time, it can be difficult to keep donor-conception and the donor’s identity undisclosed due to modern technologies such as social media and DNA registries.
Future contact: Decide whether you want an identifiable donor option, which would allow your child to connect with the donor later  in life. Also consider the donor bank’s policies on the maximum number of donor offspring, as this will affect the potential number of half-siblings your child may have in the future.
Exploitation and fair compensation of donors: For egg donors especially, the medical process is invasive and carries risks. Ethical concerns include ensuring that donors are:

  • Fully informed (informed consent).
  • Compensated fairly without being exploited financially.
  • Protected from pressure or coercion.

No, using donor sperm or eggs cannot guarantee that a child will be free of health conditions. However, donors undergo extensive medical, genetic, and infectious disease screening before being accepted. This greatly reduces the risk of passing on known inherited disorders or transmissible diseases.
Even so:
• Genetics are complex: Not all conditions can be detected by current screening methods.
• Pregnancy factors: The health of the pregnancy also depends on the recipient’s age, medical history, and lifestyle.
• General population risk: Just as with naturally conceived children, there is always a background risk of birth defects or health issues (often estimated at around 3–5% of all pregnancies).

In short, donor screening increases the chances of having a healthy child, but no medical process can guarantee 100% certainty.

This depends on:
• The donor’s agreement (Non-ID or ID Release donor).
• The regulations in your country or the country of treatment.
• The policies of the sperm or egg bank.
• Some donor children also connect with half-siblings through voluntary registries.

Choosing a donor can bring up complex emotions such as grief about not using your own gametes, or concerns about family identity. Our experienced professional donor counsellors can provide:
• Emotional support through the decision-making process.
• Guidance on talking to your future child about their origins.
• Practical advice on comparing donors and donor banks.
In addition , many fertility clinics today have their own counsellors to support you on your donor treatment journey and help you navigate difficult decisions along the way.

Yes. Our FC counsellors can help you:
• Avoid mismatches with local regulations.
• Identify donor banks that meet your specific needs.
• Understand hidden costs.

See more: https://www.spermandeggdonors.com/sperm-egg-donor-counselling/

Donor sperm: Usually a quick process — frozen vials/straws that can often be shipped within days.
Donor eggs: Fresh eggs can take several months (due to matching and cycle synchronization), while frozen donor eggs are faster, although availability depends on your chosen donor bank’s inventory.

Donor sperm is sold in different vial or straw types, depending on the treatment:
• IUI (Intrauterine Insemination): Requires washed sperm vials/straws with a higher MOT (motility), since the sample is placed directly into the uterus.
• IVF (In Vitro Fertilization): Can use either washed or unwashed sperm vials/straws. MOT requirements are lower because the sperm is prepared in the lab before fertilization.
• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): Requires only a few motile sperm, so even low-MOT vials/straws are suitable.

MOT stands for “Motility”
It refers to the number of motile/moving sperm in a donor vial/straw, measured in millions per milliliter. Different fertility treatments require different MOT levels:
• IUI (intrauterine insemination): usually requires higher MOT vials.
• IVF (in vitro fertilization): can often be performed with lower MOT vials, since the sperm is prepared in the lab.
• ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection): requires very few motile sperm, so even vials with low MOT can be suitable.

Yes, in most cases you can. Many donor banks allow you to purchase and store additional donor sperm or eggs to increase the chance of having genetic siblings in the future. Policies vary by bank, and storage fees may apply. It’s often recommended to reserve early, since donor availability can change over time.

The age limit varies depending on the country, local regulations, and the clinic’s own policies. In many countries, fertility treatment is offered up to around age 45–50, but some clinics may have lower limits. Factors such as overall health, ovarian reserve, and the type of treatment also play a role in whether treatment is recommended or permitted.