Sperm donation is a technique whereby a couple dealing with infertility problems is able to attain a child. This means that the sperm of provider or the donor is used to impregnate a woman. The donor is not the sexual partner of the woman, and although he is the biological father of the child born, he is not the de facto or legal father. However, according to the jurisdiction of the land the rights of the sperm donor vary. Sperm donation happens at a sperm bank or clinic and is becoming a great boon for couples who want to have a baby but the male partner is suffering from infertility problems. 

How Does Sperm Donation Happen?

Artificial insemination is the usual process by which sperm donation takes place. This can either be an ICI or IUI that is conducted in a clinical environment or II (intravaginal insemination) which can be done at home. Sperm donors might also be required in an IVF procedure and in certain cases, the donor has sexual intercourse with the woman who intends to be the mother, in order to initiate the conception. This is known as NI or natural insemination.

Risks Due to Sperm Donation

Although sperm donation appears to be a simple process, there can be several risks involved in sperm donation which are as follows.

Infections – This is perhaps the biggest and the most probable risk involved in the process. It is quite possible that a large number of infections get transmitted, especially in cases where there is any laxity in the screening of the donor. Some clinics or sperm banks may not be very vigilant or cautious about the health and other whereabouts of the sperm donor. Now in the absence of extensive testing, such possibilities are common. But this can be easily averted if the fertility clinic adopts a rigorous screening procedure.

Legal Rights – It is always advisable on the part of the couple seeking the services of a sperm donor to draw up a legal agreement with the fertility clinic and/or the donor. This is to clearly define the rights of the donor on the child or children born out of his sperm. In most cases, anonymous donors are made to sign such contracts, where the donor absolves any right on the child born out of him. But when a known donor is donating his sperm, the rights are not very clearly defined for him.

Emotional Aspect – This is in regard to the couple using a sperm donor as well as the donor himself. Depending upon the individual reproduction and any act related to it is an emotional process at least to a certain extent. As such, when a woman gets pregnant by the sperm of a donor, she needs to discuss the matter at length with her partner and both their consent is extremely important. Every issue must be discussed in depth before proceeding. Counselling can be of great help in this respect. The donor too should be made aware of the process and purpose.

Health Issues – A number of studies have been conducted in order to determine the effect of sperm donation on the health of the donor. For a healthy man, sperm donation does not pose any health risks. But it is still yet to be known whether sperm donation beyond a certain period of time or up to a certain extent affects the fertility of the man at a later stage, or whether it affects the health of the child sired by him, at a later stage. These factors are yet to be determined.

A number of studies have been conducted in order to determine the effect of sperm donation on the health of the donor apart from the above mentioned factors. For a healthy man, sperm donation does not pose any health risks. But it is still yet to be known whether sperm donation beyond a certain period of time or up to a certain extent affects the fertility of the man at a later stage, or whether it affects the health of the child sired by him, at a later stage. These factors are yet to be determined.