Why is sperm donation needed?
Donor sperm may be needed because of fertility problems or the absence of sperm. Sperm donation is a generous and positive act that can give many people the chance to have a child of their own. If you decide to become a donor, you will have made the choice to help others in fulfilling their hopes of having a family.
What is involved in becoming a sperm donor?
Donating sperm is something that requires careful consideration, but if it’s right for you then you have the potential to give joy to people in Scotland who need help becoming parents. We carry out comprehensive screening of all donor applicants through a health questionnaire, reviewing your medical history and various screening tests. There are a number of steps involved to assess your suitability in becoming a sperm donor and we’ll guide you through this as your application progresses.
Step 1
If you haven’t already completed the eligibility checker, please visit www.eggsandsperm.scot. Completing this online helps us to monitor interest across Scotland and further information is provided in “Frequently Asked Questions” if you meet the basic criteria. If you are unable to access the online checker, the basic eligibility criteria to be considered as a sperm donor is as follows:
- You are aged between 18 and 45 years old
- You have not donated sperm elsewhere
- You are a non-smoker
- You are able to give a personal and family medical history (verbal) on both sides up to grandparents, and there should be no significant illnesses or inherited diseases.
If you meet the basic criteria, please go to Step 2.
Step 2
If you meet the initial criteria to apply to become a sperm donor, please read the information sheet below then complete and return the questionnaire. If we haven’t heard back from you within 2 weeks, we’ll send you a friendly reminder to return the questionnaire. If you have changed your mind and no longer wish to be considered to become a sperm donor, please let us know and we’ll make sure to remove you from our contact list.
This will be reviewed by a clinical member of staff within the donor team. We aim to get back to you within 2 weeks to let you know if you are able to progress to the next step of becoming a sperm donor. Occasionally we’ll ask for further details based on the information you’ve given.
Please check your spam and junk mail folder within your email so you do not miss any of our correspondence.
Step 3
We’ll then invite you to attend an initial consultation with one of the donor team.
Before you attend this appointment, please make sure you have read the Information for Prospective Sperm Donors, see above. If you have any questions, you might find it useful to write them down for your appointment.
If you wish to progress your application to become a sperm donor, you will be sent a text message and directed to a secure website for more information and to complete your consents online. You will be required to upload a photo of your identification (i.e. passport). If you would prefer to attend a counselling appointment before completing consent forms, please let us know at this first appointment.
Step 4
Completing your consent forms online may take up to two hours in total to consider and complete. If you are unable to complete the consents online, below are the consent forms that can be printed. You do not need to print these if completing consents online.
Online Consents Information for Donors
HFEA CD form (Your consent to disclosing identifying information)
HFEA MD form (Your consent to donating your sperm)
Please note that if you are using printed forms, you can complete the different sections but please do not sign or date the forms until your initial clinic appointment.
If you wish to vary or withdraw your consent, you can do so at any time until the point of sperm, egg or embryo transfer by contacting the fertility centre where you donated. They will supply you with the relevant consent form.
Step 5
Your initial clinic screening appointment:
- We will go over information (and consent forms) if not completed online
- A nurse will take your blood for screening tests. You’ll also be asked to provide a urine sample.
- You will be shown to a private room to provide a semen sample. We’ll then test the quality of your sperm and carry out freezing/thawing to assess sperm survival. It’s recommended that you abstain from ejaculation for 2 days beforehand.
- We usually receive all test results within 2 weeks and we will contact you to let you know if you’re able to progress to the next step.
- Please bring photographic identification (e.g. passport) if you did not complete consents online
Step 6
You will be referred to our Counselling service to discuss the implications of donation. If you have a partner that wishes to attend with you, we are more than happy to arrange this for you.
This appointment can be face-to-face, online (via NearMe) or by telephone. If you require an interpreter this can also be arranged.
Step 7
You will have a medical appointment with one of our doctors. They will go through your medical history and carry out a physical examination. If you are suitable to become a sperm donor, one of our nurses will measure your height, weight and blood pressure and take blood for the remaining screening tests required.
The doctor will normally let you know at this appointment if you are suitable to become a sperm donor providing the remaining blood screening results are acceptable. If appropriate, we will write to your GP for confirmation of your suitability in becoming a sperm donor based on the medical information they have.
You’ll be provided with information about providing a pen portrait and goodwill message:
Your file will be given to the laboratory donor team to arrange donation appointments. Please advise staff of your availability for donation appointments and any planned holidays or overseas travel to assist in offering appointments. You will be expected to attend for weekly appointments for approximately 10-20 weeks and blood screening will be repeated at 3 monthly intervals. The laboratory team will be able to advise when there are an adequate number of donations provided.
Overseas Travel
We ask about overseas travel to make sure there is no risk of transmitting Zika virus (or other relevant transmissible infection) to the unborn baby of donor sperm recipients. If you have travelled or plan to travel to a Zika-affected area, we will need to defer you from donation for 3 months upon returning from that area.
Information for Donors about Contact
From October 2023 onwards donor-conceived people are able to request identifying information about their donors, following the change to the law in 2005 allowing donor-conceived people, at 18, to access this information from the HFEA.
Professionals from organisations across the sector have developed five new leaflets which provide information and signposting for egg and sperm donors about the possibility of contact from any donor-conceived people born from their donations.
- Preparing you and your family for the possibility of contact
- Donor FAQs
- Important information for people who have donated eggs, sperm or embryos in the past
- Contact stories: Donors
- Contact stories: Relatives of Donors
Further reading:
Being an egg or sperm donor – Study – The University of Manchester
Further information on donation is available on the HFEA website.
Contact Us
Egg and Sperm Donor Team
Edinburgh Fertility Centre
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
51 Little France Crescent
Edinburgh
EH16 4SA
Tel: 0131 242 2440 (prospective donor answer machine)
For donation/screening appointments: 0131 242 2463
Email: loth.edindonor@nhs.scot
Please note that NHS Lothian has a closed IT network, which is considered sufficiently secure to send/receive sensitive, confidential information. However, we are unable to guarantee the security of information sent between email accounts outside NHS Lothian. For this reason, if you choose to communicate via email, our reply will have any sensitive information omitted.
