How to become a sperm donor in the UK, what are the requirements to donate and what rights do you have?

COUPLES struggling to have a baby of their own, or same sex families, may need the help of a sperm donation.

But how can men become a sperm donor and what rights do you have for any children conceived?

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What are the requirements to be a candidate for sperm donation?

A sperm donor needs to undergo some tests before donating.

According to , centres may require donors to:

• Be aged between 18 and 41
• Agree to be screened for medical conditions
• Be free from any serious medical disability or any sexually transmitted diseases
• Be healthy and fit
• Know and provide information about the medical history of their family (parents, grand-parents, siblings and children)
• Have no inherited disorders within their family
• Not use any drugs
• Agree that their ID can be released if requested by any person conceived as a result of their donations once said person reaches the age of 18
• Provide a proof of ID (copy of their passport or driving licence)
• Be willing to commit their time to the sperm donation process
• Have high sperm quality (motility, count, and shape).

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How do you become a sperm donor in the UK?

To find the nearest licensed clinic, check out the

Before you get selected, candidates will need to complete an initial phone call where they have to answer a series of suitability questions.

If you pass, you will be invited to a local laboratory or sperm bank to give information about your family’s medical history.

You will be tested for infections and genetic conditions such as HIV 1 & HIV 2, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Cytomegalovirus, Gonorrhoea, Trichomonas, HTLV 1 and 2, Rhesus antibody screen, Cystic Fibrosis, General Chromosome Screen, as well as ethnic specific tests.

Next you will have to provide a primary sample at the centre, and your semen will be tested for the overall sperm count you can provide and if it is suitable for freezing.

If you are successful, you will be able to donate a sample which can be frozen for a maximum of around 55 years.

What rights do you have as a sperm donor?

You are required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to sign a consent form.

A maximum of 10 families can benefit from your sperm, with parents being permitted to request sperm for siblings if they wish.

Thanks to amendments to The Human Fertilisation & Act (HFE Act), which were added in April 2005, anonymity of donors has been removed.

Children born as a result of sperm donation can now request access to identifying information about their donor once they reach the age of 18.

This includes a full name and last known address.

Some centres will ask you to provide information about your family and medical history and something for individuals conceived by your donation to read, should they wish when they reach the age of 18.

You have no legal responsibilities to any child created from your donation and the person who received your donation will be their legal and social parent.

Your name will not appear on their birth certificate, and you will have no rights over their upbringing or have any financial responsibilities.