Donor Insemination
Approximately one in eight infertile couples requires the use of donor sperm to achieve a pregnancy. Donor insemination is a simple procedure that uses a syringe to place semen into a woman's vagina to assist her in getting pregnant. The semen is normally obtained from someone other than the woman's husband or partner.
With the new technology of the ICSI procedure that enables a single sperm to be manually inserted into the woman’s egg versus a complete semen collection, donor insemination is becoming less common.
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What is the process for pursuing donor insemination?
A couple pursuing donor insemination will go through a comprehensive orientation that includes discussions of potential semen donors, methods of insemination, legal issues, fertility awareness, and self-exam. Fertility awareness is discussed to educate the couple on identifying the best time for insemination. Most fertility specialists will conduct a health exam to insure that there are no problems prior to conception and that the woman is healthy enough to carry a child full-term.
There are basically two types of insemination options: intravaginal or intrauterine.
- Intravaginal insemination: semen is placed inside the vaginal canal near the cervix
- Intrauterine insemination: semen is inserted directly into the uterus through a small catheter.
Is donor insemination safe?
Donor insemination has been shown to be very safe. Donors accepted by sperm banks are required to present extensive family and personal medical histories. They are also given thorough medical evaluation that includes screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, the presence of HIV antibodies, and history of genetic disorders. Pregnancy resulting from donor insemination carries no greater health risk than pregnancy resulting from intercourse.
What are the legal issues regarding donor insemination?
There should not be any concerns about parental rights. In most cases, sperm is obtained from a sperm bank and the donor does not have any access to the woman's identity. In almost every case, the donor has officially given up his rights. In some cases, couples select a donor with a history of donating sperm. In such cases, they can hire an attorney who will draft the appropriate papers to give the couple full custody, as well as terminate the parental rights of the donor.
In some locations, the child conceived from donor sperm might have the right to request identifying information when they reach their 18th birthday.
How successful is donor insemination in achieving pregnancy?
As long as there are no infertility factors related to the woman, 60-70% of women will have achieved pregnancy by six to nine months of insemination treatments.
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What are common concerns related to donor insemination?
There are several things that couples should discuss regarding donor insemination. In most cases concerns do not involve matters of right and wrong but rather what works best for each couple. It is important to discuss issues such as:
- Your church’s religious position on donor insemination? Some denominations oppose donor insemination.
- The fact that, like adoption, the husband will not have a hereditary or genetic relationship with the child.
- The fact that, like adoption, the sperm donor may be anonymous. This can prevent the child from knowing their biological history.
- The secrecy that is often a part of donor insemination can lead to the feeling that something about it is morally or ethically wrong. This can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or fear.
- The child’s right to know and whether to reveal how conception has occurred.
- Questions about the child’s family likeness or absence of it.
Good communication is the key to addressing these concerns. Some couples will find it challenging to reach the same conclusion. Consequently, the best approach is to thoroughly discuss these issues before pursuing the insemination procedure.
