Infertility treatment and attitudes towards infertility have vastly changed since the first IVF baby was born in the 1970s.
Today people are much more open about their own fertility situation and the fact that they need treatment to have their family. At Manchester Fertility we helped many couples and single women have children for almost 30 years, and one of the main changes we’ve noticed is attitudes to using donor sperm or eggs.
For most people, using a donor is simply the only option. Usually the road to using a donor is long and complicated, with many months spent trying for a baby, followed by testing and analysis, which reveals that traditional infertility treatment methods such as IVF or ICSI simply won’t help, or the chances of success are so low they are not worth exploring.
But far from it being seen as a ‘last resort second best’ option, many are happy that something can be done to give them a family of their own. And now, because attitudes have changed and people are so much more open about their circumstances, those who do need donor sperm or eggs don’t feel isolated in their situation.
As a team the most important thing we do, if you need to use donor sperm or eggs, is to ensure that you are completely comfortable and informed about your treatment path. It’s why all our patients who need donor sperm or eggs have to undergo counselling, including partners. It is a big decision, often it’s a time of emotional turmoil. Firstly you have to come to terms with the fact that you can’t have a child together biologically, and the impact of this can be enormous.
But you will not go through this alone. Our many years in helping people have a family ensures we have in-depth understanding of the issues surrounding the use of donor eggs and sperm. We discuss not only how you may feel, but also your immediate families. How you may consider telling your future children how they came to be born, and indeed if you have existing children how they could feel about their new sibling.
The implications are considerable but once these are understood and accepted, it’s good to know that we can help you have your family, you don’t have to wait for donor eggs or sperm to become available - we have no waiting lists - and that you can begin your journey to your baby as soon as you are ready.
Find out more about treatment using donor eggs. You can also book in for our informal, free one-to-one appointments on 0161 300 2737.
Last updated: 13th January 2020
