Back

Donor Sperm

If you experience infertility due to a complete lack of sperm, you can often still achieve a pregnancy using donor sperm. We can arrange for sperm to be ordered from abroad where donors are appropriately screened and the sperm is quarantined.

Our Donor Sperm success rates

Because donor sperm is already tested for quality, the success rate of donor sperm treatment is directly related to the age and ovarian reserve of the woman.

Get in touch


  • Using donor sperm

    As with any person who undergoes fertility treatment at Glasgow Royal Fertility Clinic, you will need to have a basic fertility work-up. Once fertility testing is complete, you will meet with your doctor to review the results and determine your course of treatment. Additionally, we would recommend you meet with one of our counsellors to discuss the mental and emotional aspects of utilizing donor sperm. 

  • Selecting a sperm donor

    You will select your sperm donor using the European Sperm Bank website which has donors available for immediate use. Sperm donors are non-anonymous, but the donors usually provide a childhood picture. The donor database offers personal demographics (i.e., hair colour, height, race, etc.), as well as essays written by the donor, detials on their medical history and family history. Our Embryology Team will advise you on what you will require in terms of quantity, type and grade of sperm.

    In the case of a known donor (i.e., a friend or family member), you will still need to have an infertility work-up. In addition, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority requires a 6-month quarantine of the sperm sample period in order to; test the donor for sexually-transmitted diseases, freeze the sperm, retest the donor 6 months later and then release the sperm for use. All donors from the European Sperm Bank have already gone through this process.

  • After donor selection

    After you select the donor, the cryobank sends the frozen sperm sample directly to Glasgow Royal Fertility Clinic. From there, you will undergo an intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle using the donated sperm. Additional frozen sperm specimens will be kept at the cryobank for future use.

  1. How can I ensure I receive high-quality sperm?

    Glasgow Royal Fertility Clinic is very selective in choosing which cryobank to refer patients. For each of the sperm banks we recommend, all sperm donors go through a rigorous course of screening — physical examination, family medical history screenings, genetic screening, psychological testing, and a semen analysis to name a few. This is to protect you, ensuring that you will have access to the healthiest possible sperm. Full details of the testing that the European Sperm Bank performs is listed on their website.

Fees

We are delighted to be able to purchase donor sperm for your treatment from the European Sperm Bank (ESB). Our full price list can be found here for download, but below is a summary of the charges from ESB are and the associated administration costs. At any time, if you have any questions about the fees, please contact us as soon as possible on 0141 956 0509 to speak to a member of staff.