Being a sperm donor

Being a sperm donor

 

If you are interested in becoming a father through sperm donation, whether you are planning to be a co-parent or just want to help a woman become pregnant, you are probably asking yourself a lot of questions: Are there any requirements to be a sperm donor? What methods am I comfortable using? Will I give donations to anyone or will I be selective? How much involvement do I want in the child’s life? How will I feel if I’m not in his or her life? These are all very important questions that you need to think about carefully before deciding to become a sperm donor.

 

Are there any requirements to be a sperm donor?

 

Yes, there are. You need to be at least 18 years old, and you cannot have any sexually transmitted diseases. You should be tested immediately before donating as to not infect the receiver and potentially your future child. You should also be aware of any genetic diseases that run in your family because this will most definitely be a common question asked by sperm receivers.

 

What methods am I comfortable using?

 

Do you prefer to impregnate a woman naturally or through artificial insemination? There are pro’s and con’s to both: Women may not be comfortable conceiving a child naturally with someone they don’t know and would prefer artificial insemination. However, the chance of her getting pregnant through A.I. is less than the natural method. Also, you may not feel a connection with the mother if you choose to use A.I. which could be favorable or not. This decision needs to be made between you and the woman, and you both must be comfortable with it.

 

Will I be selective about who I donate to?

 

Generally men are concerned about who the mother will be if they are planning to be a part of the child’s life. If you decide that you will donate to anyone who wants your sperm, you have to accept that perhaps you are aiding an unfit parent become pregnant. If you do decide to be selective, you have to decide how picky you are going to be. Will you give to anyone who seems responsible and caring or will they have to be college-educated and have a high-paying job? These are important questions to think about before becoming a sperm donor.

 

Will I be involved in the child’s life?

 

Before becoming a sperm donor, you must decide what level of involvement you want in the child’s life. You could be a very involved father, have a presence but not be a true parent, or have no role at all. It all depends on what you are comfortable with and what you and the mother agree upon.

 

If you do decide to have no involvement, make sure that you are truly comfortable with knowing that you will have a child out there but don’t know anything else about him or her. This can be very difficult for some men, and it’s important to understand yourself well enough beforehand so that you can make a responsible choice not only for yourself but for your child.

 

All of these questions are extremely important and should be considered long before deciding to donate. You also need to discuss these issues with the person you have decided to donate to and make sure that you both agree on your arrangement.