Fertility clinic - Institut MarquèsInsemination with donor sperm
What is an insemination with donor sperm?
It is the indicated treatment for patients who, for different reasons, do not have available sperm cells capable of producing normal embryos. It consists of an intrauterine insemination with donor sperm. Donor sperm is always frozen and can only be used if, after 6 months, the blood analysis of the donor still confirms a negative result for infectious diseases.
Are the success rates high?
The pregnancy chances depend mainly on the age of the patient and the number of follicles that develop in a cycle. With ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination the pregnancy chances per cycle are 20-25%. After four cycles, approximately 70% of the patients have achieved a pregnancy.
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (*)
| IUI Donor sperm | IM<35 | IM 35-39 | IM≥40 |
| Pregnancy / cycle | 28,5% | 22,0% | 25,0% |
| Clínical pregnancy / cycle | 24,1% | 19,8% | 20,0% |
| Live birth rate / cycle | 21,2% | 16,1% | 15,0% |
(*) Global results (they vary depending on the patient’s age)
How is the insemination with donor sperm performed?
Firstly, all necessary interviews and tests are carried out and the physical features, the blood group and Rh factor of the patients are taken note of to match them with a suitable donor.
At out centre, we only perform intrauterine inseminations, which take place having previously capacitated the sperm in the laboratory. During the freezing and thawing processes the sperm can lose mobility despite being of very good quality, and therefore results are better if the sperm is capacitated after thawing.
How is the sperm donor chosen?
At Institut Marquès we have our own Sperm Bank and it is always the doctor who personally chooses the best donor for each patient. We have vast experience in donor selection. The protocol of serological and genetic studies of our Andrology laboratory includes, in addition to the mandatory tests appointed by the European legislation, some additional ones to ensure high quality samples. Moreover, we carry out an exhaustive sociological and psychological assessment of the donor. We have more than 2,000 egg and sperm donors of all phenotypes, which speeds up the process and avoids waiting lists.
Can donor inseminations be performed by placing the sperm in the cervix?
Inseminations can be carried out by collecting the sperm in a recipient and placing it in the cervix, but the results are not good. Institut Marqués performs only intrauterine inseminations (injecting the sperm in the uterus) for more than 10 years.
Do I need to sign a consent form for sperm donation?
Yes. This document mentions that the insemination will be carried out with sperm from a donor. The legal aspects of using sperm donation are also explained.