You may know you’ll need a sperm donor from the outset of your fertility journey if you’re a single woman or are in a same-sex relationship. Or you may have hoped to use your own/your partner’s sperm, but have now been told that won’t be possible.
Either way, you’re now considering using donor sperm, which could come from a known or unknown donor.
Demeter Fertility provides Australia’s most comprehensive and accessible sperm donor program through partnerships with the world’s leading donor banks. Here’s how it works.
How does sperm donation work? An overview
| Find a donor | ● Known donor – a friend or relative willing to donate sperm to you. ● De-identified donor – someone who has donated his sperm to a sperm bank. |
| Screening process | Donors undergo significant genetic, blood and psychological screening, including a session with Demeter Fertility’s in-house counsellor (a legal requirement).
Typically, this screening covers: ● Infections such as HIV, hepatitis B & C, HTLV I & II, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea ● Full blood count, blood group and Rhesus antibodies ● Genetic conditions, including chromosomal abnormalities ● Sperm quantity and quality. Donated sperm is then quarantined for 3 months and retested before you can use it. |
| Use the sperm | Once the sperm is ready, it may be used to help you conceive a child through: ● IVF/ICSI – your eggs (or donor eggs) must be harvested, then fertilised by the donated sperm in a laboratory before being transferred to your uterus. ● IUI – the donated sperm is inserted into your uterus through your cervix while you’re ovulating. |
Sperm donor laws in Australia
The Australian laws around sperm donation aim to protect everyone involved.
Sperm donors cannot be paid in Australia. It must be an informed and voluntary decision, not clouded by any financial incentive.
De-identified sperm donors:
- Must consent for their identifying information to be added to the NSW Health ART Central Register (or similar registers in other states)
- Must understand that any child born as a result of their donation may access this identifying information once they turn 18 – there is no right to permanent anonymity
- Can create a maximum of 5 families worldwide under NSW law, including their own (other states have different rules)
- Have no legal or financial obligations or rights to any child born from their donation – their name does not appear on the birth certificate
- Can be told the number, gender and birth year of children born using their donation but cannot receive more detailed information without the recipient’s consent.
The recipient(s) of donated sperm is/are:
- Able to access some information about the donor’s health history and physical characteristics before deciding to proceed
- The legal parent(s) of any child born as a result of the donation, with the same rights and obligations as any other parents
- Named on the child’s birth certificate
- Encouraged to explain the circumstances of their child’s conception in age-appropriate ways as they see fit.
Considerations when using a known sperm donor
Using a known sperm donor is the most common and most cost-effective option for many patients.
You may like the thought of having a known donor who may continue to have some involvement in the child’s life. There are, indeed, many good things about that – but there are some important things to consider too.
In such cases, it’s advisable to seek legal advice before proceeding.
How can Demeter Fertility help?
In Australia, about 5% of assisted reproductive technology procedures use donor sperm, eggs or embryos.
We’re proud to play our part in that. We’ve helped many individuals and couples start a family using donor sperm (and/or donor eggs).
We understand the complexities and sensitivities here and do our best to guide you through the process, always treating you with gentleness and respect.
If you’re ready to chat, please contact us today.
Disclaimer
All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice.
References
- Parenting SA, Donor conception: telling your child, https://parenting.sa.gov.au/easy-guides/donor-conception-telling-your-child-parent-easy-guide, [Accessed 22 October 2024]
- VARTA, Why, when and how to tell children about donor conception: a review of the literature, https://www.varta.org.au/sites/default/files/2020-12/Why%20when%20and%20how%20to%20tell%20children%20about%20donor%20conception.pdf, [Accessed 22 October 2024]
