The Sperm Donation Process: How Does Sperm Donation Work?

Sperm donation is the process by which individuals provide sperm, typically by ejaculating into a sterile container. The sperm donations are then cryopreserved and safely stored for use in fertility treatments. When made via a licensed sperm bank, donors should understand that they are providing a donation and should not expect a relationship with the individuals who use their sperm for fertility treatment or any children conceived using their sperm. 

Donors will attend one of our dedicated donation centres, be shown to a private room and ejaculate into a sterile container. You’ll leave the container in the private room and leave via an alternative exit so you don’t have to pass through the waiting room once you’ve donated.

At European Sperm Bank, we prioritise creating a warm and welcoming environment where each donor feels valued. Donor comfort is incredibly important to us, and we are proud to say that 9 out of 10 donors report high satisfaction levels with our supportive staff.  

While donating, donors are afforded complete privacy and provided materials to help with masturbation. We ask that donors refrain from masturbating for 48 hours before donating.

Sperm donation laws vary considerably from country to country, and regularly change and evolve. Depending on where you receive fertility treatment, there will be different laws governing issues that include:

• Donor anonymity (ID Release vs. No-ID Release) – whether a donor’s identifying information can be released when individuals conceived using their sperm reach a certain age.
• Age of ID Release – the age at which certain donor information is released (if legal to do so).
• Parental legal rights – who is considered a legal parent and who is responsible for a donor-conceived child.
• Screening, safety and quality control – different countries will implement different requirements for semen screening, storage and quality control.
• Family limits – the number of families that can use a donor’s sperm to have children.
• Compensation – whether and how much sperm donors can be compensated.

Some aspiring parents choose to receive fertility treatment in other countries to access treatment that is less expensive or not available in their country of residence. They may also do so to benefit from preferable donor legislation. For instance, if they have a preference for ID Release or No-ID Release donors and their choice is not legally permitted in their country of residence.

Sperm donor pay and benefits vary depending on where you’re donating. For instance, European Sperm Bank donors in Denmark can expect to earn up to 500 DKK per donation. In the Netherlands, you earn up to €40 per donation.

There may be other benefits too. European Sperm Bank donors who donate regularly in Denmark also receive a free membership to PureGym.

The requirements for being a sperm donor include:

• Donors must be aged 18-45.
• Donors must be in good physical and mental health.
• Donors must be able to commit to at least one year of regular donations.
• Donors must undergo semen analysis and health screening.
• Donors must be able to provide family medical history.

These are the sperm donor requirements for European Sperm Bank donors. Currently, European Sperm Bank is only recruiting donors in Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany.

Men donate their sperm for diverse reasons, including:

• The desire to help aspiring parents have children.
• A feeling that they want to leave a genetic legacy, even if they don’t have their own children.
• A personal connection to someone who has experienced infertility or been unable to conceive by sexual intercourse.
• Financial compensation.

Many men will donate for a combination of these reasons.

After donations, the sperm is processed and frozen for storage in our labs. The processing process depends on how the sperm is to be used. The main distinction is between IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) and ICI (Intracervical Insemination) donor sperm.

Because IUI sperm is placed directly in the uterus, it needs to be washed of all the natural fluids present in semen to avoid a potential allergic reaction. Consequently, IUI sperm is often known as washed. ICI sperm donations are unwashed and retain those natural fluids. During processing, the sperm will also be separated according to motility.

Following processing, the sperm straws are frozen and cryopreserved for storage. Donations can last for decades in storage without deteriorating.

When choosing a sperm donor, aspiring parents might benefit from:

• Choosing the three donor traits that are important to you and focusing on those.
• Trusting in the screening process and not reading too much into illnesses included in a donor’s medical summary. Everyone gets ill at some point in their lives.
• Using search tools like Photo Match to find donors who look like you or your partner.
• Creating a shortlist of donors, rather than trying to pick one donor you like.
• Narrowing down potential donors by deciding whether you want your child to be able to learn the identity of their donor (ID-release) or not (no-ID-release).
• Accepting you can’t control everything and recognising that there is no such thing as a perfect donor, only your favourite. 

Read more about this advice in our How to Choose a Sperm Donor guide.

On European Sperm Bank donor profiles, donors often include childhood photos, and some will choose to have a hand-drawn adult portrait by a professional artist. Profiles do in some cases include adult photos depending on country.

Once you have found the right sperm donor, European Sperm Bank ships your order to a registered fertility clinic for your fertility treatment. How a baby is conceived using donor sperm depends on the fertility treatment you undergo.

• Intracervical Insemination (ICI) – donor sperm is placed near or directly in the cervix using a syringe. 
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) – sperm is inserted directly into the uterus using a catheter.
• In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) – eggs are retrieved from the uterus and fertilised in the lab with donor sperm. Embryos are then transferred back into the womb to grow.

Donor-conceived children will take traits from both the sperm donor and the individual whose eggs are fertilised. However, when it comes to genetics, nothing is guaranteed. For instance, traits can skip a generation, so your child's nose might not look like either of the individuals from whom they received genetic material. 

That said, children tend to look like their parents, and you can expect them to have some of your features. You can also use European Sperm Bank’s Photo Match tool to find donors that look like you, your partner or a loved one, increasing the likelihood that your donor-conceived child will resemble that person.

What is a sperm donor?

A sperm donor is a man who provides sperm, usually to a licensed sperm bank, that will be used in fertility treatments to help people who may not otherwise be able to conceive have children. 

What does a sperm donor do?

A sperm donor provides semen samples for analysis and screening. Once the sperm is approved for use in fertility treatments, the donor will make regular donations that are cryopreserved until required. While they continue donating, donors are tested regularly. At European Sperm Bank, we test donors every quarter for contagious diseases using a serological test and NAT/NAAT screening. 

Can you sell sperm?

Yes, you can sell sperm directly on the grey market. However, in many countries, you can’t technically sell sperm to a licensed sperm bank. Instead, you are compensated for expenses associated with the donation process. This is largely a legal technicality, and sperm donors are generally compensated for each donation they make. 

Can you make sperm donations anonymously?

No, you can no longer donate your sperm anonymously at European Sperm Bank.