Sperm, eggs and donors
Every fertility journey is different and depending on your medical history, fertility diagnosis, and treatment plan you may require additional procedures. This page describes procedures that are commonly associated with IVF.
Providing Semen Samples
Male partners will usually be asked to produce a semen sample in order to fertilise eggs in the laboratory. This happens around the time of the egg collection.
This sample is most commonly produced through masturbation in a private room at the clinic. In some situations, it may be collected at home and brought to the clinic within a specific time frame. The sample is analysed and prepared by embryologists before being used in treatments such as IVF or ICSI.
If a semen sample cannot be produced in this way, doctors may discuss other medical options to retrieve sperm:
- In circumstances where it's not possible to produce a fresh semen sample at the optimal time, some clinics arrange to freeze a sample before egg collection
- Sperm can be retrieved via a surgical procedure, for example, Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) or Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA)
Use of Donor Sperm
Donor sperm is used when a partner's sperm is not available for medical or personal reasons. Donors may be someone known to the patient or a donor recruited through a fertility clinic or sperm bank.
When donor sperm is used, the partner-patient is not involved in providing genetic material, but they will play an important role in decision making about its use, consent processes, counselling, and emotional support throughout the treatment.
How partners are involved varies depending on the situation.
Heterosexual couples
Donor sperm may be used when sperm from the partner is not available or suitable for treatment.
This can occur in situations such as:
- Very low or absent sperm count
- Genetic conditions that could be passed on to a child
- Previous medical treatments affecting fertility (such as chemotherapy)
- Unsuccessful attempts using the partner's sperm
In these cases, both partners are typically involved in the decision to use donor sperm. Fertility clinics often require joint counselling and informed consent before treatment begins.
Partners may also attend medical appointments and be involved in discussions about donor selection and future disclosure to children.
Female same-sex couples
For couples where neither partner produces sperm, donor sperm is required. Donor sperm allows one partner to achieve a pregnancy using assisted reproductive technology such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF.
Both partners are usually involved in choosing the donor and planning how treatment will take place. Same-sex couples may also explore options such as reciprocal or shared IVF, where one partner provides the egg and the other carries the pregnancy.
Solo patients
People pursuing fertility treatment independently will often use donor sperm. While there may not be a partner involved in treatment decisions clinics provide counselling and support to help individuals navigate donor selection, treatment planning, and future considerations such as discussing donor conception with a child.
Use of Donor Eggs
Donor eggs may be used in IVF when a person is unable to use their own eggs or when there is a risk of passing on certain genetic conditions. When donor eggs are used, the partner may still play an important role in treatment, decision-making, and support throughout the process. How partners are involved can vary depending on the family structure and treatment plan.
Heterosexual couples
In heterosexual couples, donor eggs may be recommended if the patient has a low egg reserve, poor egg quality, premature ovarian insufficiency, certain genetic conditions, or has undergone medical treatments that affect fertility.
In these cases, the partner may provide a semen sample to fertilise the donor eggs during IVF. Both partners are typically involved in choosing a donor, attending counselling sessions, and providing informed consent before treatment begins.
Male same-sex couples
In same-sex couples where neither partner produces eggs, donor eggs may be used with a gestational carrier. In couples where one partner produces sperm but neither produces eggs, donor eggs may be fertilised with that partner's sperm.
Both partners are generally involved in selecting a donor, participating in counselling, and making decisions about how embryos will be created and used. Clinics also support couples with legal and ethical considerations that may be relevant depending on the treatment pathway.
Solo patients
Single women may use donor eggs if they have a low egg reserve, poor egg quality, premature ovarian insufficiency, certain genetic conditions, or has undergone medical treatments that affect fertility. In these situations, donor eggs are fertilised with donor sperm in the laboratory before embryos are transferred to the uterus.
Although there may not be a partner involved in treatment decisions, clinics still provide counselling and support to help individuals understand the medical process, donor selection, and future considerations related to donor conception.