Sperm Donation

• A Good Candidate for IVF with Sperm Donation
• Cost of IVF with Sperm Donation
• Donated Sperm
• Sperm Donation Procedure
• IVF with Sperm Donation and Gender Selection

Sperm Donation Defined

IVF with sperm donation is an infertility treatment to correct a male infertility factor. IVF with sperm donation can also be used in female couples or for single women wanting to produce offspring or in surrogacy. For the purposes of IVF with sperm donation, males donate their sperm to help make fertilization possible in infertile couples.  The success rate of IVF with sperm donation varies depending on the female’s age and whether she has any female infertility factors that may hinder pregnancy.

 

A Good Candidate For Sperm Donation

Men undergo a infertility testing to examine various factors of the sperm such as quantity, size and speed. A low sperm count is the most common factor in male infertility. Azoospermia is a condition where men carry no sperm in their semen. Sperm with poor motility can also make fertilization difficult because the sperm struggles to reach the female egg and break through the outer shell. Male infertility can also stem from genetic or hormonal disorders.

Sperm Donation Procedure

As a common procedure, sperm donors in the United States are tested for HIV, Hepatitus B and C, syphilis, Chlamydia, gonorrhea and cytomegalovirus, among other diseases. Men also undergo a complete examination of the reproductive organs. Children born from sperm donation are less likely to have birth defects because only healthy donated sperm is accepted in sperm banks.

The sperm donation procedure is similar to the IVF procedure. After infertility testing, doctors will determine whether a patient is a good candidate for sperm donation.


Semen Analysis

A semen analysis is a qualitative examination of a man’s sperm for the purposes of male infertility testing. The initial examination is best carried out under two samples given about two weeks apart. Doctors examine sperm in a similar fashion for examining white blood cells in a standard blood test. Semen is collected in a clean glass or plastic container by masturbation and ejaculation. (In certain circumstances, semen may be obtained at home or during sexual intercourse if failure by masturbation persists.)

Doctors then examine a number of different characteristics to determine if there is a male infertility factor.


Other Treatments for Male Infertility

Couples experiencing a male infertility factor should not lose hope. There are a number of treatments in addition to IVF with sperm donation that couples can undergo to overcome a male infertility factor. A doctor may suggest infertility drugs designed to increase the male’s sperm count. Infertility specialists will most commonly recommend certain infertility treatments to take place with IVF. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a treatment for male infertility that manually injects sperm into a female’s uterus. IVF with ICSI is another treatment option whereby a single sperm is injected in-vitro into a female’s eggs during an IVF procedure.