I’ve recently seen a patient who was considering donor sperm insemination. Before coming to us, they had been to see an alternative infertility clinic which imports all their donor sperm from the European Sperm Bank. And who foots the bill for shipping it over? You do, the patient.
It’s no secret that there’s huge shortage of sperm donors. And many clinics are now having to ‘buy’ donors in from abroad.
But not at Manchester Fertility. We recruit all of our sperm donors ourselves, and because of our successful donor programme there is no shortage of UK sperm donors for patients who come to us.
There are many reasons why you might not want to use ‘European’ imported sperm. Firstly, it is the cost. The price to import sperm is considerable, and you’ll often find that clinics who import sperm don’t reveal this in their pricing or fees tables. They want to remain competitive with other clinics, and adding on import costs will make them seem much more expensive. You’ll also find you have to wait whilst the sperm is ordered and delivered, bringing considerable delays.
Secondly, by recruiting our own UK-based donors, we get to know them very well. Some of our donors visit us every week for six months to donate. We help our donors to write a little about themselves for their donor profile, so potential recipients have a good idea about what they’re like as a person.
Don’t forget also that the law allows donor-conceived children the opportunity to trace their biological fathers when they turn 18. Donors from abroad may be harder to track down and not very accessible. All Manchester Fertility donors keep in touch and continue to provide us with up to date contact details, making future contact much easier for your child.
Plus, can you be certain that your imported sperm has met all the necessary screening criteria? All Manchester Fertility donors have gone through the screening recommended by the HFEA and other professional bodies, we have strict protocols and systems in place to check the suitability of all potential donors and their samples.
So if you’re thinking of using donor sperm to get pregnant, make sure you do your research thoroughly. Because as our patient found out, it’s not as simple and cheap as it seems.
Last updated: 20th January 2020
