Donor sperm is a term used to describe sperms that have been donated by a healthy and fertile male to help individuals or couples to have a baby. The idea of sperm donation gained a lot of impetus after the movie Vicky Donor was released in India but the procedure has more to it than what was depicted in the movie. The donated sperm can be directly injected in the intended mothers uterus i.e. intrauterine insemination or fertilized with mature eggs in a laboratory using in vitro fertilization. The procedure is a part of third party IVF which may be defined as assisted reproduction which involves the use of gametes donated by a third person who is not related to the intended parents. Sperm donation is an option for couples experiencing male infertility.
At Zeeva we understand all your concerns, be it related to treatment confidentiality or ethical and legal aspects of using donor sperm and constantly thrive towards easing your journey by assisting and guiding you throughout. Our experts resort to the use of the latest techniques and technology for results that are at par with excellence. If you think that donor sperm might be an option for you, Zeeva is your ultimate destination. Meet our specialists and take your first step towards the beautiful journey of parenthood
In case the sperms of the intended father are not healthy enough or the sperm count is significantly low, it is possible to achieve pregnancy by collecting a large semen sample and extracting the best quality sperms, however, if the patient is suffering from azoospermia i.e. does not produce any sperm at all, sperm donation is the best resort. Donor sperm can also be used by single women who wish to have a child.
Not everybody can be a sperm donor and there are certain eligibility criteria that need to be fulfilled to make sure that the donor sperm is viable for the procedure.
In order to ensure that a male is eligible to be a sperm donor, certain tests and screenings may be performed, which include the following:
Physical exam- This involves the collection of urine and blood samples and examining them to check for the traces of any infectious disease. In case of regular donors, the tests are to be carried out every 6 months.
Semen testing- Samples of semen collected from the intended donor are collected and examined to evaluate and assess the quality of sperms as well as their quantity and mobility.
Genetic testing- The blood sample of the intended donor is examined to trace any genetic abnormality or disorder. This helps to identify the risks of specific disorders in the child that would be produced using these sperms. As it is impossible to screen for thousands of genetic disorders, a detailed family history is taken along with tests for thalassemia.
Psychological evaluation- Sperm donation can be overwhelming for some. A proper psychological evaluation is pertinent to make sure that the donor has taken the decision of donating the sperm in a proper frame of mind. Counselling may also be offered to make sure that you are psychologically and emotionally sound for proceeding with the procedure.
The sample thus collected is cleaned, preserved (using cryopreservation technique) and quarantined for a period of at least 6 months after which the donor is again tested for infectious diseases like HIV. If the tests are negative, the sperm is again examined to evaluative its quantity, quality and mobility. Sperms that meet the quality benchmarks qualify to be used for the procedure.
