In many types of fertility treatments, donor sperms are used. This sperm is used to fertilize the egg inside or outside the woman's body. In case of intrauterine insemination, the sperms are injected right into the woman's uterus, so that they do not have to travel too far to reach the eggs. This gives them a head start and offers a better chance at fertilization. In case of IVF, sperms is used to fertilize the eggs in a laboratory, in vitro.

Do you Need Donated Sperm?

Sperm donation is on the rise, and many healthy men donate their sperm for women who want to have babies but do not have access to fertile sperms. However, using donated sperm is a huge decision, and one you should make only after careful consideration. This sperm would form the genetic basis of your child, so you may want to discuss this with your friends and family before making a final decision. A professional counselor may be able to give you advice on this as well.

When Should You Consider Sperm Donation?

You may consider sperm donation if your partner produces very little or no sperm (azoospermia). Unhealthy, diseased and misshapen sperms are unlikely to fertilize an egg and should not be considered for fertilization. If your partner poses a risk of passing a known genetic disease to the baby, you should consider using donated sperms.

Some men, who have had irreversible vasectomies, may also consider using a sperm donor for reproduction. Today a number of single women are choosing to have babies; they too require donated sperm to have their baby. Women in same sex relationships will also need to have sperm donation if either or both of them want to get pregnant.

Learn More about Azoospermia

Donated Sperms – How Do They Work?

Donated sperm may be used for insemination through intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization. The procedure of using these sperms varies from one clinic to the other. Typically, the men are screened for various genetic and sexually transmitted diseases. A physical examination and medical history is taken before the test. The sperm recipient would also go through similar tests.

She would also have to undergo a tubal patency test to ensure that the tubes are not blocked.After the woman's eggs are retrieved for IVF, they will be fertilized with the washed and treated donor sperms. In case you have opted for an IUI, the donor sperms are placed near your cervix or inside the uterus using a thin catheter for in utero fertilization.

Success Rates

The success rates vary from treatment to treatment. The highest chances of success are with IVF in which women younger than 35 years of age may have up to 50% chance at success.

Summary

Sperm donation has helped make thousands of pregnancies possible, but do you need donor sperm and if so how is donor sperm used in your treatment? Read on to find out.