The Use of Donor Sperm and Sperm Banks

The use of donor sperm is an important option in assisted reproduction when the male partner produces no viable sperm cells. It is a reasonable option when the male partner’s sperm is functionally or genetically compromised. It may be used in any case of m

A man might decide to freeze his sperm if he is scheduled to undergo cancer treatment. After radiation therapy or chemotherapy, it is possible that most or all sperm could be wiped out. Some men who are having a vasectomy freeze their sperm in case they want to maintain the option of having children in the future without vasectomy reversal. Some women have chosen to collect sperm from a loved one who has passed away. In these cases, sperm can be successfully used if extracted within 72 hours after death.

How Is Donor Sperm Used in IVF?

Donor sperm can be used with any procedure involving assisted reproduction. If you are using a sperm donor with your IVF procedure, the protocol for ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval remains unchanged. You will still receive fertility medications to prepare your eggs for retrieval. Once retrieved, your eggs will be combined with the donor sperm. Any resulting embryos will be transferred back to your uterus for implantation.

For IVF, it is imperative to ensure that the sperm cells of the donor have been tested for survival after freezing and subsequent thawing. This must be determined well before the sperm bank accepts the donor. A representative sample is collected, frozen, and thawed. Then, it is retested for sperm count, morphology, and motility. 

If the sperm cells survive the process of freezing and thawing, the sample can be used for assisted reproduction. In most cases, the survival rate after thawing is 80–85%. However, not all sperm will survive freezing and thawing. Compromised sperm cells are more likely to result in pregnancy with IVF.

Is the Use of Donor Sperm Common?

The process of sperm donation can be viewed as a seamless way of building a family when it is indicated. Egg donation requires stimulation of the ovaries, followed by a minor procedure to retrieve the eggs. In contrast, sperm donation simply requires that the donor masturbates. In some IVF cases, both donor eggs and donor sperm are utilized. This would be necessary if the male and female partners cannot produce sperm or eggs. In 2010, about 30,000 to 60,000 babies in the United States had been born because of donor sperm. Overall, four million American babies were born that year.

In the United States, sperm donation is not regulated by the federal government. The nonprofit called the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has developed a set of recommendations that doctors, obstetricians, and sperm banks are encouraged to follow. 

ASRM recommends that individuals should not donate sperm samples more than 25 times in six months and not more than once weekly. The idea is that this will reduce the risk of an accidental related genetic relationship and consanguinity. Furthermore, it is recommended that the use of a specific donor should be limited to 25 live births per any population area of approximately 900,000 people. Nearly half the births from donor sperm are not reported. 

Author

Dr. Steven A. Brody Dr. Steven A. Brody, the Director of the Infertility & Lifespan Medical Institute in San Diego, has spent his professional career providing compassionate and specialized care to help families overcome infertility. Dr. Brody has authored two textbooks, one at Stanford and one with a Nobel Prize winner at Cambridge, entitled “Principles and Practice of Assisted Human Reproduction.” Dr. Brody earned his M.D. degree at Washington University and continued his education with an internship at Yale, a residency at Stanford, and a fellowship at Baylor. Dr. Brody is the only doctor in the U.S. who has achieved Board Certifications in four distinct specialty areas including: Internal Medicine, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. If you are looking for a compassionate and thorough physician who works with you to overcome infertility and treat any reproductive disorders, call the office or book an appointment online today.