Donors: Why & How
If you are young and healthy, between the age of 21 and 35, and love sports or academic activities, or feel you have something to offer families or individuals who are struggling to start a family, then sperm donation may well be something for you to consider.
Why should I become a sperm donor?
Sperm donation has become an acceptable option for couples or single women struggling with infertility, yearning to become parents. Equally, LGBT couples wishing to start their own families will follow the same route. Men can even make arrangements for a surrogacy pregnancy in order to conceive a child of their own.
People struggling with infertility may do so for a variety of reasons – ranging from genetic disorders, to overall health problems, to stress, or to illnesses such as cancer.
As a sperm donor you are offering all these people the hope to conceive their own child with the help of your genetic material.
The larger our sperm donor database, the more options sperm donor recipients have to select what they deem a compatible sperm donor match.
How do I become a sperm donor?
- When donating sperm, you will be taken through a series of tests and questions to ascertain your family’s genetic background, as well as your general health and lifestyle. This will be done at no cost to you. Once these tests are completed, Androcryos will decide whether or not you are a suitable sperm donor candidate, and if accepted, you will be enrolled in the sperm donor program.
- Androcryos is legally prohibited from remunerating you beyond your travel and out-of-pocket expenses, but many young men, particularly students, still find the bit of extra cash worth their while. Your primary motivation for becoming a sperm donor will be based on humanitarian values in your desire to help out those who are dependent on donor sperm.
- Sperm donation is anonymous and the donor has no knowledge of or claim over who receives their sperm. However, according to the Government Gazette 2957 Chapter 1.4, donors are allowed to express their wishes in terms of general recipients when it comes to race and religion.
Which tests are conducted in order to ascertain the suitability of a sperm donor?
Androcryos will conduct a full semen and chromosomal analysis, ascertaining the sperm quality. They will screen your blood for diseases and genetic conditions, you will be asked to visit their medical doctor for a general check up. Some of the tests involved include HIV (the results of the mandatory HIV tests will be given to you only), Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, as well as a full batch of minerals, enzymes, proteins, cholesterol, glucose, etc.
You will also be asked questions about your family history in terms of genetic disorders and health issues.
Psychological and emotional assessments are also performed, as well as a credit and criminal check.
Sperm Donor Program
If you are interested in becoming a sperm donor, please visit our Androcryos Sperm Donor Program and fill in the Sperm Donor Questionnaire to initiate your application. Or send an email to donate@thespermbank.co.za to be sent the forms and information required.
Anonymous & Non-anonymous Sperm Donors
Sperm donors can decide to openly identify themselves to their recipients, or remain anonymous. If you are interested in becoming a non-anonymous sperm donor, instead of an anonymous one, please discuss this option with Androcryos when you initiate the donor program process.
