Sperm Banks in the UK
Introduction to Sperm Banks in the UK
It is difficult for couples who want to have a baby but are not able to conceive. IVF is an option but it is an expensive one and will not always be successful. There is a process where the egg and sperm are taken from the couple and fertilised outside the body. They are then inserted into the woman and hopefully will survive.
This however is fine as long as both people are fertile. If the man is not then this will not be suitable. Adoption will be an option but if the hope is that the child will belong to at least one of the couple there is another method. AID which stands for artificial insemination by donor means that the child will be yours as the egg will come from the female but the sperm will be from an unknown donor. This can be arranged through sperm banks in the UK.
Sperm Donation in the UK
The London Sperm Bank is now the premier sperm bank in the United Kingdom. It is still advertising for donors as there are still many couple looking for this service so regardless of the motivation it is a good job that some men will provide sperm. The clinic has a website and it is possible to find out the answers to most of the questions, although it is made clear that you will need to speak to members of the clinic and be assessed before you are enrolled. There is no payment but you will receive expenses and have any lost earnings reimbursed.
Once you have been accepted you will be committing to a series of visits. This is not just the case that you go in leave a sample and walk away. Sperm banks in the UK are highly regulated and certain procedures have to be followed. It is expected that you will visit the clinic a couple of times a week over a three to six month period.
In order to make sure that one person is not populating an area by themself, there is normally a 10 baby limit put on the amount of children one person's sperm can produce. If there is request for a sibling for a child already born, then this can be arranged. There are concerns that in later years a child could then look for the donor and expect them to take responsibility for them. The HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) have a ruling that there will be no financial or social liability placed on the donor. Entering into an arrangement where you are providing sperm for a known recipient may not have the same security.
Sperm Recipients in the UK
If you decide that this is the route you are going to take it is important to carry out plenty of research. Most clinics will have websites so you will be able to find one close enough to be convenient and also find out what their policies are. Once you have decided which sperm bank in the UK you wish to use you can find out if you are eligible for funding from the NHS. There are strict criteria that you must follow and it is also possible that you will need to join a waiting list. This can be 18 weeks so it is not a great deal of time.