Choosing a sperm donor
Finding the sperm donor that best suits your requirements can start with a specific characteristic that you value. For instance, if your ethnic background is particularly important to you, you may start by narrowing the sperm donor pool down to sperm donors with the same ancestry.
We suggest you do a broad search first to keep your options open.
Get started by filtering sperm donor details such as eye colour, hair colour, ancestry and height.
Once you’ve narrowed down the selection of sperm donors that suit your personal preferences, you may then save your ideal sperm donors to start looking at their extended profiles. Once you’ve found your sperm donor match, you can request the sperm and we’ll be ready to get you started right away.
At Addam Donor Bank, we understand choosing to use donated sperm is an important decision so you can rest assured that dedicated nurses, donor coordinators and specialists will be here to help you every step of the way providing all the information you need and answering any questions you may have so that you can make an informed decision.
When should you order donor sperm?
Your order should be placed at least three weeks before the intended treatment date. We cannot guarantee the completion and delivery of orders placed later than this.
Please note, you must see one of our fertility specialists, register as a patient with one of our clinics and complete your extended carrier screening tests (Myriad) before you are able to reserve a donor.
What are the treatment options available for people using donated sperm?
Donor Insemination (DI)
Donor Insemination using donated sperm is a fertility procedure in which treated sperm is inserted into a recipient’s uterus directly, to increase the possibility of conceiving
Donor insemination involves the use of specially prepared frozen sperm from a sperm donor. The procedure is known as Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI).
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
In Vitro Fertilisation involves medical procedures and the fertilisation of the egg by the donated sperm in a laboratory (outside the body), before the embryo is transferred back into the recipient’s uterus.
Your specialist will discuss your IVF treatment cycle with you. The treatment type usually depends on an individual’s medical history, age, diagnosis and other related fertility factors.
What happens after I select a sperm donor?
Once you have registered with us and selected your sperm donor preferences, you will receive an email with useful information on what will happen next. Our friendly staff will give you a call or email to organise everything for you:
- Book a medical consultation
- Pathology collection
- Counselling
- Patient education
For more information on what happens after you select a sperm donor, please visit our web page “The process of receiving sperm”
Common Questions
How much donor sperm can I order?
Addam Donor Bank limit your order to one donor at a time, although you can order 1 – 2 vials of sperm from that donor. Often women will purchase 2 vials of the same donor as it may take more than one attempt to achieve a pregnancy, and many women wish to have sperm reserved for sibling treatments. We may be able to procure additional sperm from a particular donor once our supplies have run out of stock but this depends on the donor’s availability at the time. If you are choosing an overseas donor (NSW and QLD only) the overseas provider will be contacted. Ask your clinic for their recommendations.
Australian legislation and guidelines limit the amount of offspring any one donor can create. Donors may be used to create up to 10 families in Queensland, 5 families in New South Wales, and 10 women in Victoria.
I am seeing CMV status listed for your donors. What does this mean?
- Cytomegalovirus, or more commonly known as CMV, is a member of the herpes family which includes chickenpox and cold sores. CMV manifest in as cold or flu-like symptoms. Most adults will have been exposed to the virus as a child. Once exposed to CMV you will test positive for CMV antibodies. This means you can choose a CMV positive or negative donor.
- If you test negative to CMV antibodies and choose a CMV positive donor, there is a very low risk that the virus may be passed on. Complications of an active infection during pregnancy can include neurologic abnormalities. We suggest discussing this with your clinician. A waiver will need to be completed if choosing a CMV positive donor if you are CMV negative.
How often does the list of available donor’s change?
The donor’s availability list can change daily due to either all stock being exhausted or family limits being reached. To avoid disappointment, it is imported to place your reservation in a timely manner and have more than one option on your selection form.
How do I add a donor to my matches?
To add a donor to your matches, simply tick on the heart shape that is on the top right corner of each donor’s profile, if you are on the website, or swipe right if you are using the Addam app.
Counselling services
It is our role as counsellors to help you identify which strategies suit you best.
At least two counselling sessions are scheduled for recipients and their partners (if applicable). This will be scheduled at the counsellor’s discretion, and the consent forms will be signed with the counsellor. Once you have signed the counselling consent forms, you can reserve your donor.
You may also schedule further appointments with the counsellors to discuss questions or concerns at any stage of the treatment process.
For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page.
Got questions?
Our team will be with you every step of the way to provide you with further information. Simply get in touch by calling 1300 0 ADDAM or emailing us at contact@addamspermbank.com.au
Things to consider
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- We understand that before you begin the search for your ideal donor, there is much to consider. To help you make an informed decision, we have put together a few essential points to help you get started. To learn more, click here
