The decision to use donor sperm is often made early in the family planning process. This option is suitable for single women, lesbian couples, or heterosexual couples facing male infertility issues.
Insemination Process
Insemination with donor sperm is minimally invasive and integrates easily into a woman's daily routine. Typically, inseminations are performed two or three times around the woman's ovulation period. For women with a 28-day cycle, ovulation usually occurs on day 14. Women with varying cycle lengths can use basal body temperature monitoring to pinpoint ovulation. The sperm must be in the uterus just before or within 12 hours of ovulation for optimal fertilization chances.
Types of Insemination
There are two main types of insemination procedures:
Intracervical Insemination (ICI) - In this procedure, the sperm is placed just inside the cervical opening. It is less expensive because the sperm does not need to be washed beforehand.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) - This procedure involves placing the sperm directly into the uterus. The sperm must be washed to remove prostaglandins, which can cause uterine contractions. Although more costly, IUIs have a higher success rate than ICIs.
Both procedures are performed using a thin, flexible catheter and should cause no more discomfort than a regular Pap smear. Women are generally encouraged to rest for 10 to 30 minutes post-insemination but can resume normal activities afterward.
Sources of Donor Sperm
Donor sperm can be obtained from fertility clinics, sperm banks, or known donors. Regardless of the source, the sperm must be screened for sexually transmitted diseases to prevent infections, including HIV. Additionally, donor sperm is routinely screened for certain genetic disorders to ensure the health of the offspring.
Donor criteria
Choosing sperm from a fertility center or sperm bank offers numerous options. Donors are carefully screened for genetic and infectious diseases and must meet certain criteria:
Height - Most donors are between 5'10" and 6'2".
Weight - The donor's weight should be proportional to his height.
Age - Donors are typically between 19 and 39 years old.
Sperm Quality - Donors must have a high sperm count, with at least 70% motile sperm and 60% with normal appearance.
Donor profiles include information about the donor's ethnic origin, personality, likes, dislikes, and family history.
Known (Directed) Donors
While some opt for anonymous donors, some people prefer using a known donor, such as a friend or relative of the woman's partner, because of more information about the donor. Known donors must also be screened for infectious diseases. Unlike sperm banks that freeze sperm samples, fresh sperm can be used from known donors, which can result in a higher pregnancy rate.
Chances of Success
The likelihood of pregnancy using donor sperm ranges from 5% to 19%, similar to conception rates in the general population, assuming the woman has no fertility issues. For women under 30, the conception rate in any given cycle is about 20%, decreasing to about 15% for women aged 30 to 35, and less than 10% for women over 35.
The process is relatively straightforward, with multiple options for sourcing donor sperm and types of insemination procedures. With careful screening and selection, donor sperm can offer a promising path to parenthood.
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