Donor Programs

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Donor Sperm Program

Approximately one in twenty five males is unable to father a child due to a medical or genetic reason.  One in eight infertile couples requires the use of donor sperm to achieve a pregnancy.
Single women, or those in same sex relationships, also require the use of donor sperm in order to achieve a pregnancy.
Donor sperm can be used as part of an IVF procedure or in an insemination treatment. Your doctor will assist you in selecting your best treatment option.
Pregnancies resulting from donor insemination have the same risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth as the general population. Furthermore, there is exactly the same risk of an abnormality in the child as in those conceived naturally.

At Monash IVF we have two donor sperm programmes:

•  Clinic recruited donors
  These donors are recruited by the clinic and are available for use by numerous recipients (A clinic recruited donor is allowed a total of 10 families within Australia). Monash IVF will reimburse reasonable travel and medical costs.
• Known donors.
  These donors are known to the recipient and are available for their use exclusively.  All costs involved are paid for by the recipient. This type of donor is recommended for fertile single women wanting to use donor sperm for insemination purposes, as the number of suitable clinic recruited donors for this purpose is very limited.

Both programs are managed by the Donor Sperm Coordinator and all donors are treated in the same manner, and undergo the same procedures as outlined below.

The following information outlines what is involved in becoming a sperm donor.

Those who wish to donate sperm must attend counseling with a Monash IVF approved counselor.  During this counseling session(s), issues relating to the donation of sperm are discussed.  A spouse or partner (if applicable) must attend with you. Having attended this counseling session(s), you are asked to give your consent, in writing, for the donation of sperm. Please note that you can withdraw your consent at any stage of the process, up to the point of embryo formation.

DONORS MUST BE: 

Aged between 21- 45 years.  (preferably less than 40 years old)

• Prepared to consent to the release of identifying information to child. Donor treatment can only be facilitated under circumstances where the child can know their genetic parents.
• Compliant with all relevant legislation and regulation relating to donation of gametes. (Reproductive Treatment Accreditation Committee (RTAC) Code of Practice; National Health & Medical Research Committee (NHMRC) Ethical guidelines on the use of assisted   reproductive technology in clinical practice and research September 2004, Vic. Human Tissue Act 1982).
• Prepared to provide information on previous donations and agree to limit births to no more than 10 families, if relevant.
• Prepared to undertake screening tests for known infectious and genetic diseases.
• Prepared to have all frozen semen quarantined for 6 months and undertake repeat screening tests prior to release of the semen for use within the clinic.
• Prepared to undergo counseling (This includes with partner if relevant)
• Able to provide a genetic family medical history i.e. not be adopted.
• Prepared to release non-identifying medical information to the recipients to enable informed consent.

For all inquiries, or to arrange an appointment for your first semen analysis, contact the Donor Sperm Co-ordinator at the clinic on (03) 9420 8218.  Please state that you are a potential new donor when you telephone. The Donor Sperm Co-ordinator will be available to answer any questions you may have.

Initial Procedures
You will need to bring photo identification with you on all visits (e.g. driver’s license or passport and Medicare card).

First Semen Analysis and Test Freeze: 
The semen sample is produced by masturbation in our private facilities at the clinic. A full semen analysis is performed to check the quality of the sperm and suitability for the program. A test to determine how your sperm will survive the freezing process is also done.

 Note:  An abstinence period of three days is required. Samples must be produced on the premises.

The Donor Sperm Coordinator will telephone you within one to two weeks to tell you the results of your semen analysis and freeze.  If your sample is suitable and you wish to proceed, appointments will need to be made for counseling and a medical examination. Please ring main reception Richmond on  9429 9188 and specify that you are a potential sperm donor when making these appointments.  If you are uncertain as to what you need to do, please do not hesitate to ask the Donor Sperm Coordinator.

 Counseling
Donors are required to see a counselor who will explain the legal and ethical implications of becoming a sperm donor. If you are married or in a de facto relationship, then your partner will also be required to attend counseling and sign consent forms regarding you becoming a sperm donor. Please note that by regulation, your wife must attend counseling even if you are separated (but not divorced).  

Medical Examination
A medical examination appointment will be made for you with a Clinician at Monash IVF by telephoning (03) 9429 9188. It may be possible to arrange for both counseling and the medical interview to occur on the same day.

Once you have completed your counseling and medical interview please contact the Donor Sperm Co-ordinator on 9420 8218. She will organize a time for your first donation and your blood test and assign you a donor code.

Screening Tests
The donor's wife or partner will not require blood tests, but the following tests will be performed on your blood on the day of your first stored donation.
Blood Group and Rh factor
HIV I & II
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Syphilis
Cystic Fibrosis screening test
HTLV I & II (a retrovirus similar to HIV)
Karyotype
Thalassemia screen

The following tests will be performed on your urine:   
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Ureaplasma / Mycoplasma

Acceptance as a Donor

You will be notified at this point if you are accepted as a donor.  Reasons for non-acceptance onto the donor program include:

• Semen abnormalitySemen freezing unsuccessful
• Abnormal blood tests
• History of genetically-linked disorders
• Medical or psychiatric problem

If you are accepted as a donor, a minimum of ten donations are required.  You can make appointments by telephoning Andrology directly (03) 9429 4603. Please mention that you are a sperm donor and you will be required to mention your donor code. We will endeavor to assist you in making appointments that fit in with your lifestyle, but be aware that 3 to 5 days of sexual abstinence is required prior to each donation.

For many couples, it is important that their children are genetic siblings (i.e. have the same donor).  When they conceive, couples have the option of reserving semen for future pregnancies.  This is possible only if there is sufficient sperm still in storage which is the reason we require a commitment of at least 10 donations from you.

Further blood testing is done after the semen has been in storage for six months, as semen cannot be declared free of HIV until after this quarantine period.

Compensation for Reasonable Medical and Travel Expenses

An allowance of $90 per donation is payable to cover reasonable traveling expenses, car parking, time off work etc, however this is paid in three amounts.
Initially, $400 is paid by cheque after the fifth donation. This is to cover the time you spent in counseling, medical consultation and for the first 5 donations.
A further $200 is paid after the tenth donation.
Finally, you will receive a final $300 payment when the 6 month quarantine blood tests have been finalized, and the donated sperm is available for use.

NB: For reasons of confidentiality we prefer donors to contact us rather than the clinic contacting you.  It is important that we be notified of any change of address or phone number in case we need to contact you (for instance, for blood tests or to renew consents). This can be up to 10 years or longer after you donation.

Legal Implications
Under Victorian State legislation, (amendment to the Status of Children Act 1984), the donor has no legal rights or responsibilities in relation to the child.

NHMRC Ethical guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology in clinical practice and research (September 2004 – www.nhmrc.gov.au) states persons conceived using Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) procedures are entitled to know their genetic parents. Clinics must not use donated sperm in reproductive procedures unless the donor has consented to release identifying information about himself to the persons conceived using his sperm. As part of the ART Act 2008 (to be proclaimed late 2009) that governs many aspects of reproductive technology, there is a Central Register of all births using donor eggs or sperm. This Central Register will be held at the Registrar for Births, Deaths and Marriages.
The Central Register contains identifying information about the child, the recipient of the donor sperm and the donor.  All children born using your donated sperm will have their birth registered. 
Application to the Central Register for identifying information can be made by the child (over 18 years old), the recipient or the donor. As a legal right, identifying information will be made available to the child once they are over 18 years of age.  Requests from the donor or recipient, for identifying information, will be met if only if the other party agrees. Non-identifying information is available to all parties and can be obtained from the Donor Sperm Coordinator. 
Donors are legally entitled to know that their sperm has achieved a pregnancy or live birth, sex of the child and whether there were any birth abnormalities.  Donors often request this sort of information.  Donors have the right to withdraw their consent for the further use of sperm samples up to the stage of embryo formation.  Consent cannot be withdrawn after embryos are formed.
Withdrawal of consent must be made in writing to the Clinic, marked attention to “The Designated Officer”. 

If the sperm is to be used outside of Victoria, Victorian State Legislation still applies. This means that a child born through the use of Victorian donor sperm will still need to have their details placed onto the Central Register regardless of where they are born.

Please ensure that you notify us of any change of address or telephone number. If you have any queries regarding sperm donation, please do not hesitate to contact the Donor Sperm Co-ordinator or Andrology Laboratory staff on (03) 9429 4603.