The practice of donor insemination has been around for decades. Since the late 1980’s requirements for sperm donors change and all semen samples must be frozen and quarantined for a 6 moths period prior to use. According to Canadian health regulations, men providing sperm for donation must be screened for hepatitis B,C, HIV, HTLV, syphilis, gonorrhea Chlamydia and cmv virus. A semen sample can only be released if the donor is re-tested and infection free after the 6 month quarantine period.
ICSI has lowered the need for donor insemination. However, for men with total azoospermia (complete absence of sperm), sperm donation is their only option to have a child. Men that have extremely poor semen parameters (high DNA fragmentation, abnormal morphology, immature sperm) may also require sperm donation.
Donor insemination is an extremely safe and simple procedure and offers a viable option for single or women that desire to have a child. Over the years it has proven to be a very successful program and parent satisfaction is extremely high. Similar to oocyte donation. Couples/women requiring donor insemination are required to have counseling prior to proceeding with 3rd party reproduction and guidelines must be followed as set by Canadian legislation in 2004.