Do you know what is a sperm donation? If you are curious about sperm donation and its importance, then this article will be able to help you understand sperm donation.
Do you know that a donor must go through several screenings to fully determine if he is eligible? If you want to be a sperm donor or want to have artificial insemination? Well then, read on and learn more about the 7 screenings for sperm donors and their further explanations.
There are men from around the globe that are not capable of reproduction; in most cases, they are infertile. But, with the help of the latest technology and the minds of scientists, artificial insemination can be an option.
How Does Sperm Donation Affect Women, And Why Is This Important?
Being a parent is one of surpassing achievements in life. Who wouldn’t love to have kids at the right age? (Except for those who didn’t want to). The sad part is that you will never know if your partner is capable of pregnancy or has enough sperm.
But personally, as a woman, I wanted to carry a child in my womb. I want to feel it moving inside my body just like others would love to. And thinking that I won’t be able to go through it would make me feel empty. So, in this case, you can take sperm donated in private clinics or hospitals. So, what is a sperm donation?
The purpose of sperm donation is to provide women who are pregnant who don’t have or have an infertile partner.
Though many have tried to adopt child adaptations, some women prefer artificial inseminations. The semen from private clinics or hospitals is not just from anyone who wants to donate. They have to undergo various tests and must qualify to the basic standards. If you’re a short man, then dang! You’re out.
The 7 Screenings for Sperm Donors
A sperm donor refers to the man who donates while the sperm he donated was called donor sperm. If you want to be a sperm donor, then you should be knowledgeable of the following screenings:
#1. Age
Even though there have been no reports that age could affect the sperms in donation, they still recommend ages 18 to 39-year-old. But, if you are above 40, you can try several clinics that don’t require age limits.
#2. Physical exam
The health care provider will examine your body’s health through physical tests, including your heartbeat, temperature, height, and weight.
Aside from those, your blood and urine must determine if you have infectious diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and others.
#3. Semen testing / Semen analysis (Seminogram)
It is a procedure wherein the semen will be evaluated by its characteristics (quality, quantity, and movements). It will also identify the numbers of sperm a man could have.
In this test, the applicant must not ejaculate or have sex for at least 48-72 hours, as a release of semen closely to these hours would change the movement and other factors and must not consume alcoholic beverages. To understand better, read semen analysis preparation.
#4. Genetic testing
Genetic testing is also known as Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing. The blood will be analyzed again for genetic testing to check if you are carrying genetic conditions. It will identify changes in your genes, chromosomes, and proteins.
#5. Medical history
It is crucial to have this information checked. You must share the medical history of the previous two generations in your family. Unfortunately, if your family has a hereditary disease and other severe conditions, you might not be accepted as a donor.
#6. Psychological evaluation
The donor will be asked for permission if he wants to share his personal information with his biological children in the future or go on through counseling with his partner (if he had). To give you a clear perspective, read the implementation of psychological screening in a large sperm bank.
#7. Family and sexual history
They need to provide personal information such as habits, hobbies, education, and interest. This process will determine if you belong to the high risk of having infectious diseases. It will also define if you are safe to donate your sperm to sperm banks/ clinics. As you need to release semen, the medical staff will escort you to an empty room–wherein you can masturbate.
All in all, sperm donation is another way to support relationships that are eager to build a family (it’s either a couple of women to a man, same-sex, or has no partners.)
Even though it has uncountable controversies for this medical method (especially for religious people, who are actually against the medical process, especially forming a child with science), it survived and is now legally performed in different countries.
When Did Sperm Insemination Originated?
Based on the report, the insemination started back in 1884 when a Professor from Philadelphia Jefferson Medical College named William Pancoast, tried this process through his wife. He was the first man who performed this method, experimented with his semen, and gave birth to a boy.
Later in 1909, a letter from Addison Davis Hard was shared in the Medical World that highlighted the insemination process. Since that day, doctors have studied insemination and performed it in private rooms and clinics.
Aside from these, medical methods such as artificial insemination (with father’s sperm), artificial insemination (egg and sperm donors, using surrogate mother), and through In vitro fertilization (IVF) process are also available today.
Science has unlocked the reproduction process of humans, an achievement for all doctors and obstetrician-gynecologists who dedicated their time and life to discover the safest process in this method.
It’s a Wrap!
There you have it! You already know what is a sperm donation. If you want to read more about Sperm Donation, you can check Sperm banks located in the United States and other countries. For more donation articles, check out how does sperm donation work and how long is the egg donation process. Thank you for reading!