Donor Insemination
Approximately one in eight infertile couples require 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 obtained from someone other than the woman's husband or partner.
With the new technology of the ICSI procedure which enables a single sperm to be manually inserted directly 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 you are in the best health for carrying 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 is safe. Donors accepted by the sperm banks present extensive family and personal medical histories. They also go through complete medical examinations, which include thorough screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, the presence of HIV antibodies, and history of genetic disorders. A pregnancy resulting from donor insemination carries no greater health risk than a 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 access to the woman's identity at any time, and he has already abrogated his rights. In some cases, couples select an individual that they know to donate sperm. In these cases, they can enlist the services of an attorney who will draft the appropriate papers to give the couple full custody, and terminate any parental rights of the donor.
In some locations, the child conceived from donor sperm may have the right to request identifying information once 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, it is not a matter of right and wrong, but rather what works best for each couple. The important thing is to discuss these and any other concerns that you or your partner may have.
- What is your church’s religious position on donor insemination? Some denominations oppose donor insemination.
- Similar to adoption, the husband will not have a hereditary or genetic relationship with the child.
- Similar to adoption, the sperm donor may be anonymous, preventing the child from knowing their biological history.
- Secrecy is commonly related to donor insemination, which leads to the connotation that something is morally or ethically wrong. This has the potential to lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or fear.
- It is important to discuss the child’s right to know and whether to reveal how conception has occurred.
- It is important to be prepared for questions about the child’s family likeness or absence of it.
Communication is the key to addressing these concerns. Some couples find it challenging to reach the same conclusion. It is best to have these discussions before pursuing the insemination procedure.
