Sperm donation is a process in which a man donates his semen and the sperm from his semen is later used to help someone have a child. Donated semen can be used in two processes in assisted reproductive technology. One is called intrauterine insemination (IUI), in which the donated sperm sample is placed inside the woman's uterus after processing to facilitate fertilization. The other method, called in vitro fertilization (IVF), uses donated semen to process healthy and mature eggs in an embryology laboratory and then transfer the embryo/fetus to the woman's uterus. Donated semen is used as a form of third-party reproduction to enable an infertile person or couple to become parents.

Testing process before sperm donation:

Before donating sperm, the donor (the man who gives sperm) is examined for health and diseases. In this examination, the medical history of at least two generations of his family is examined. If symptoms of any hereditary (family) disease are found, then that person cannot donate sperm.

Most sperm banks allow only men between the ages of 18 and 35 to donate. The donor's blood is tested for certain genetic (birth-related) diseases and infections.

Additionally, the quantity, quality, and movement of sperm present in the donor’s semen is also examined — to see if the sperm are healthy and active.

Personal information about the donor such as his or her sexual history, education, job and hobbies are also recorded.

Overall, becoming a sperm donor requires going through a long and careful screening process. This process may be slightly different at each sperm bank.

Additionally, prior to sperm donation, all donors must sign an informed consent in which they waive parental rights to children conceived from their sperm.

Sperm donation process

Step 1: Registration

To be a part of the sperm donation program, you have to register with an accredited (board-certified) sperm bank. There they ask for information related to your eligibility, age, caste, overall health, sexual partners, and family medical history.

Step 2: Screening process

If a man clears the initial screening, he is called for tests to check for infections and genetic disorders.

A potential sperm donor may need to undergo tests for the following infections:

Gonorrhea

Hepatitis B

Chlamydia

Streptococcal Infections

Trichomonas

Syphilis and others

A person may be excluded from the program in the following situations:

Blood transfusion in the past 1 year

more than one sexual partner

a history of drug or injection drug use

History of genital herpes (herpes)

Step 3: Paperwork

If a man is chosen as a sperm donor, he has to sign legal consent forms. These include:

Permission to use sperm

Information related to the rights of parents over children

Compensation conditions for sperm donation

Step 4: Sperm Donation

Depending on the sperm donation program, the donor is required to provide a fresh semen sample in a private room. The frequency of providing the sample depends on several factors. In some cases, fresh samples may need to be provided several times a week.

Step 5: Sperm Storage 

When the donor gives his fresh semen sample to the bank or clinic, experts first check its quality. If the quality is good, the sample is safely frozen and stored for long-term preservation.

Step 6: Compensation

After the sperm quality is confirmed, the donor is compensated for his sperm sample. This payment can be made into a bank account or in some other way. The compensation process may vary from sperm bank to sperm bank.

What is the cost of sperm donation in India?

The cost of sperm donation in India is usually not borne by the donor. This expense is borne by the intending parents.

The average cost of donor sperm in India is ₹8,000 to ₹10,000, but it can range from ₹1,000 to ₹20,000 — depending on the quality, location, and sperm bank.

PC: NU Fertility