Choosing a sperm donor is one of the most exciting parts of treatment when you are having a baby on your own. But it can also feel overwhelming, because of all the different options and choices you have.
Here are the three main things to consider and some useful tips from our Sperm Donation Team, to help make the process of choosing your sperm donor easier:
1. Physical characteristics
What you want your donor to look like is the first place to start. Many women make their initial selection based on their own appearance or that of male family members, so their child will have family resemblance. Other women seek a donor who has the physical characteristics that they would usually look for in a partner.
Our team can help match the characteristics by showing you a range of donor profiles with varying characteristics, making sure we find you a donor that suits you, whatever your preference.
2. Personality traits
Personality and values are often considered secondary to appearance by some, but others place more emphasis on these when they don’t have to match the donor to a partner’s physical characteristics. Personality also tends to become much more important when narrowing the donors down to find your ideal one.
You will get a good insight into each donor’s personality through the detailed personal pen pictures our sperm donors write. You can also learn about their motivations for donating, what type of person they are and their outlook on life, career, hobbies and interests from the full donor profile.
Our donors also write a goodwill message to any donor conceived children born from treatment using their donations. You will have access to this as part of their donor profile and will be able to share it with your child/children one day.
All the sperm donors available for your treatment are registered with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), meaning they are fully identifiable to your child in the future, once they reach the age of 18. On the HFEA website, you can see exactly what information your donor-conceived child can find out about their donor and when.
3. Health history
The health and genetic background of your donor can also be an important consideration. By having treatment with us, you have the reassurance that your sperm donor has undergone a thorough medical review, which includes assessment for some of the more serious conditions that may have a genetic link. We examine family medical history as far back as grandparents.
Your sperm donor has also been screened in accordance with strict UK regulations, that includes screening for STIs and some genetic conditions, including:
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Karyotype for chromosome abnormalities
- Blood-related hereditary conditions such as alpha and beta Thalassaemia
- HIV 1 and 2
- Hepatitis B and C
- HTLV I and II
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhoea
- Chlamydia
- Cytomegalovirus
Making the final donor choice
You will be given all the time you need when choosing your sperm donor, with no pressure or rush. Talk to family and friends, share your thoughts and the donor profiles you are considering. If you are feeling overwhelmed, remember there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to choose your sperm donor – it often comes down to who you connect with after reading the profile information.
Most importantly, keep an open mind; patients are often surprised by who they feel that connection with, as it isn’t necessarily someone that ticks all their boxes! Our Andrology Team will be your point of contact regarding your sperm donor choices through your treatment journey, they will always be on hand to support and advise.
“Our team has helped guide hundreds of single women through fertility treatment with donor sperm. We offer a comprehensive donor selection process, ensuring that our clients have access to detailed donor profiles, to help them make an informed and confident decision. Our goal is to empower single women with the resources and information they need to find the perfect donor and achieve their dream of starting a family."
Joanne Adams – Donor Sperm Bank Manager
Fertility treatment for single women: How to get started
We have no waiting list for UK donor sperm – you can start treatment now. Just self-refer online or book a free 1-2-1 with our team on 0161 300 2737 to talk through your options and donor sperm treatment packages.
You can also read our Guide for Single Women to learn more about our support and the different ways we can help you have a family.
Last updated: 3rd June 2024
