Everything You Need to Know About IVF with Donor Sperm

Q: What is IVF with donor sperm?

IVF with donor sperm is a fertility treatment where sperm from a donor is used to fertilize an egg in a laboratory. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus.

Q: Who might consider IVF with donor sperm?

Couples or individuals who cannot use their own sperm due to male infertility, genetic concerns, or single women and same-sex female couples wishing to conceive may consider IVF with donor sperm.

IVF with donor sperm is an option used when the male partner is medically unable to produce sperm, has suboptimal semen parameters, or when there is a genetic problem that could be inherited from the male.

Process Of IVF With Donor Sperm

STEP 1: Visit By Patients For Medical Examination

Both the male and female partner must visit the clinic for a medical examination, blood tests and a consultation with an embryologist. The embryologist will explain how IVF with donor sperm works.

STEP 2: Stimulation

Patients must take the medication prescribed after the medical examination.
The female partner will visit on day two or three of her menstrual cycle when hormonal investigations are done along with an ultrasound.
The ovaries are stimulated with medication to promote the growth of follicles containing the eggs, this process can last for eight to 12 days.
The response of ovaries (quantity and quality of follicles recruited) is monitored through ultrasounds and blood investigations at regular intervals.

STEP 3: Egg Collection

After eight to 12 days of taking the medicine, an injection (Trigger) is administered to assist with the final maturation of the egg and loosening of the egg from the follicular wall.
The patient will visit the clinic for the egg retrieval process, which will be performed 34-36 hours after the trigger administration.
Egg retrieval is a daycare procedure that is performed with ultrasound guidance under sedation to make it painless.
The eggs are then retrieved and processed by an embryologist in the ART laboratory.

STEP 4: Selecting A Sperm Donor

The couple must select a donor sperm sample from the donor sperm bank, with the help of the donor list provided by the sperm bank. The identity of the donor is kept anonymous as per the ICMR Guidelines.

STEP 5 : Fertilisation

In this step, every mature egg is given a single sperm. There are different procedures the laboratory can use to fertilise the collected eggs.
The decision of which one (or which combination) of these will be used by the embryologist is based on the history and the present status of the gametes.
All details are explained to patients in their appointment with the embryologist before the cycle.
One of these procedures is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and another is physiologically selected intracytoplasmic sperm injection (P-ICSI).
The semen sample is processed in the andrology laboratory and evaluated before its use.
After the sperm is injected into the egg, the egg is cultured in an incubator and checked for fertilisation after 16 to 18 hours.
Once the egg is fertilised it’s called an embryo, which is cultured in the embryology laboratory for three to five days.

STEP 6: Embryo Transfer

Based on the quantity, quality and growth of cultured embryos, the embryologist selects the best embryo and an appropriate day for transfer into the uterus of the female partner

STEP 7: After Transfer

After embryo transfer, specialists may prescribe medicines to enhance the chances of embryo implantation. After the stipulated period, pregnancy tests are conducted to confirm pregnancy.

What Is Ivf With Donor Sperm?

IVF with Donor Sperm involves the fertilization of the eggs of the female partner with the sperm of an anonymous donor provided by an ICMR-registered ART Bank.

Ivf Process

IVF with the eggs of the female partner and sperm from a donor

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Frequently Asked Questions

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) with donor sperm is a fertility treatment where sperm from a donor is used to fertilize an egg in a laboratory. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus.

Couples or individuals who are unable to use their own sperm due to male infertility, genetic concerns, or single women and same-sex female couples wishing to conceive may consider IVF with donor sperm.

Donor sperm is carefully screened for quality and health. Factors like sperm count, motility (movement), and genetic screening are assessed to ensure the best chance of successful fertilization.

Success rates can vary but are generally high when using donor sperm with IVF. Factors such as the woman's age, overall health, and the quality of the sperm and embryos play roles in success.

Laws and regulations vary by country and state regarding the use of donor sperm. Ethical considerations involve ensuring informed consent and privacy protections for both donors and recipients.

Depending on the laws and policies in place, some donor-conceived individuals may have the option to learn about their donor's identity once they reach a certain age.

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