	Community

	Message Board Chat Forum

	Infertility

	Introduction Causes Of Infertility Age And Infertility PCOS Premature Menopause Miscarriage Investigating Infertility Preconception Care Counseling Treating Infertility Sex Selection Reversal Of Sterilization Vasectomy Reversal

	IVF and ICSI

	Introduction IVF Procedure Risks Of IVF Outcome Of IVF Factors Affecting IVF Laws And Regulations UK IVF centers IVF League Tables Frozen Embryo Transfer Surgical Sperm Retrieval Electro-Ejaculation Assisted Hatching Blastocyst Transfer Genetic Screening ICSI Egg Freezing In Vitro Maturation

	GIFT and ZIFT

	GIFT And ZIFT Tubal Embryo Transfer

	Donation

	Introduction Sperm Donation Egg Donation Embryo Donation

	Insemination

	Introduction Vaginal Insemination Cervical Insemination Intrauterine Insemination Intratubal Insemination

	Surrogacy

	Introduction Guidelines And Protocols

	Adoption

	Introduction Adopting In The UK Children With Disabilities Overseas Adoption

	Resources

	Fertility Calculator Fertile Period Calculator Pregnancy Calculator FAQs Glossary Links And Contacts Bookstore Infertility News Feedback Advertising

Sperm donation

Screening of sperm donors

Male sperm donors must be screened.

All prospective sperm donors both known and anonymous should be screened for infectious and genetic diseases according to current guidelines. These include infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Cytomegalovirus, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Also, genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis carrier and karyotype. The sperm donors blood group and Rhesus factor (Rh) will also be determined. In addition, in appropriate ethnic groups screening for sickle cell in black donors, thalassemia in Mediterranean donors and Tay-Sachs disease in Jewish donors.

There is always the possibility that one or more of these tests may reveal a previously unsuspected disease or condition. All prospective donors should consider this very carefully before giving their permission to these tests.

All donor sperm whether known or anonymous should be frozen and stored for a minimum period of six months (quarantined) so that a retesting for infectious diseases, in particular HIV can be carried out on the donor before the sperm is used. This is a recommendation of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

It is essential to note that no screening program can be totally guaranteed, and there is always a small risk of infection and genetic disease. If all the screening tests are clear, the sperm donor is asked to produce about 24 semen samples (one or two per week). Each sample, is analysed and frozen if adequate.

How is sperm frozen?

The donor produces a semen sample by masturbation. After liquefaction, the semen is mixed with special culture medium to prevent the semen from being damaged during freezing. The mixture is then loaded into plastic straws. These are uniquely coded and sealed. Thereafter the straws are frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196 C and remains in storage until required.

A test freeze is carried out on the initial sample to check that the sperm has survived the freezing and thawing process. Both sperm count and motility will be reduced by the freezing process.

Previous | Next | Page:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

User Contributed Notes

There are no user contributed notes for this page.

Last updated: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 - 8:11:43
Add Comments

Terms and Conditions