Let’s Talk About Donor Sperm

What is donor sperm?

Donor sperm is sperm that has been voluntarily donated by a male, whether known to you or recruited through a donor clinic.

Men who donate sperm may be from any ethnic, cultural, or religious background. Our Newcastle fertility clinic has access to both local and international sperm banks so that you have a wide diversity of choice, but all donors must meet eligibility criteria to be accepted into a sperm donor program.

For sperm donated to an Australian sperm bank, donors must be:

Aged between 18 and 45 years
In good health with no family or personal history of genetic conditions
An Australian citizen or resident, or possess a visa enabling him to stay in the country for the whole duration of the donation process

There are also limits as to how many families one sperm donor can have contributed to; this limit varies from state to state.

Sperm donors accessed through the Genea Sperm Bank undergo rigorous testing so you can be assured that the donated sperm you receive through our Newcastle fertility clinic has been thoroughly vetted.

Who should consider donor sperm?

You may benefit from using donor sperm if you:

And your partner are having trouble conceiving due to male infertility
Are in a same-sex female or LBGTQI+ couple and would like to start a family
Have chosen to grow your family as a single mum by choice/solo parent
Have experienced repeated failed IVF cycles or recurrent pregnancy losses
Have a male partner with a high risk of passing on a genetic disorder

What are my fertility treatment options using donor sperm?

If you’ve decided to go down the path of using donor sperm, we have two options for helping you fall pregnant. Our comprehensive assessment of your own fertility and overall health will guide our recommendation as to which we think will give you the highest likelihood of success.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment that involves inserting the donor sperm directly into your uterus. The sperm then finds and fertilises your egg to form an embryo. The sperm sample is carefully prepared to ensure a high concentration of healthy sperm, maximising your chances of successful fertilisation and pregnancy.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the more well-known fertility treatment. Instead of leaving the donor sperm to fertilise the egg within your body as in IUI, we retrieve your eggs to combine with the sperm in a specialised laboratory environment. The fertilised egg is then developed into an embryo for a few days before we transfer it into your uterus to carry through the pregnancy.

Is using donor sperm right for me?

Even if you fit into one of the groups of people above who should consider donor sperm, it’s important to make a fully informed decision by exploring all your options and asking us all your questions. Using donor sperm comes with legal and ethical considerations, and we encourage all single women and couples to be as informed as possible before embarking on this journey.

Donor sperm and solo parenting

Donor sperm has opened the way for patients looking to create a family as a solo parent or single mum by choice. Intentional solo parenting gives you the freedom to make important decisions with autonomy, such as the size of your family, the timing of having children, and how you want to raise them.

The journey to becoming a single mother by choice or solo parent using a sperm donor and assisted reproductive technologies comes with some specific considerations. These include navigating fertility treatments, strengthening or redefining your social support systems, and careful financial and emotional preparation. Despite these challenges, solo mums by choice often gain a sense of personal fulfilment through the empowerment and choice that comes with using donor sperm. Your choice to go down the path of becoming an unpartnered parent means you are able to create your unique family unit on your terms.

“I am passionate about supporting patients who are looking to grow their family through donor sperm, in particular, single mums by choice and solo parents. I think it’s such a brave decision to make, and I am fully committed to supporting these strong individuals.” – Dr Erin Fuller

Book in with Dr Erin Fuller