Clinics have separate dedicated sperm production rooms and adult material in most formats (magazines, TV, DVD, etc.) will be available in these rooms. You are welcome to take your own adult material with you. If you have a particular preference of adult material then you can take it to the clinic with you. Alternatively, check beforehand whether your clinic provides that type of adult material. 

You will be provided with a sterile pot at each visit and will be asked to ejaculate into this pot while you are in a dedicated sperm production room.

If some of your ejaculate misses the sterile pot provided, just let the clinic staff know. Condoms are not used to collect your ejaculate as they could contaminate your sperm sample.

You are welcome to take your own adult material to the clinic to help you produce your sample.

Clinics have adult material in most formats (magazines, TV, DVD, etc.).

If you have a particular preference of adult material then you can take it to the clinic with you. Alternatively, check beforehand whether your clinic provides that type of adult material.

No one else can be involved with producing a sperm sample as the risk of contamination is too high.

No one else can be involved with producing a sperm sample as the risk of contamination is too high.

Sperm samples have to be produced at the clinic to avoid contamination.

If you’re experiencing any difficulties on sperm production day then just let a member of staff know.

If any ejaculate misses the pot then let a member of staff know.

To ensure sperm quality is at its optimum, clinics will ask you to avoid having sex or masturbating for two to three days before each donation.

It is not possible to be an anonymous donor in the UK. You have to be willing to be known to any children born from your donations when they turn 18.

You will receive £35 in compensation for each clinic visit to cover expenses.

Clinics have their own individual policies on this issue so check with the clinic you’re thinking about donating to for their most up-to-date advice.

Clinics have their own individual policies on this issue so check with the clinic you’re thinking about donating to for their most up-to-date advice.

Yes. Regardless of sexuality, all donors are screened and tested for the same medical conditions. Recipients are made aware of their donor’s sexuality and can choose their donor accordingly.

Clinics have their own individual policies on this issue so check with the clinic you’re thinking about donating to for their most up-to-date advice.

Clinics have their own individual policies on this issue so check with the clinic you’re thinking about donating to for their most up-to-date advice.

Clinics have their own individual policies on this issue so check with the clinic you’re thinking about donating to for their most up-to-date advice.

Although technically you could probably still donate, in reality it’s likely that you won’t be able to. Clinics would want to explore why you’d want to go ahead without your family’s support – this would probably be taken to a clinic ethics meeting to discuss and the chances are that you wouldn’t be allowed to go ahead.

It’s a personal choice about who you tell but talking through the implications of donating before you go ahead is recommended, particularly if it will have an impact on your immediate family and friends.

Yes, us! We offer impartial confidential help and support. Plus we can put you, as a potential donor, in touch with actual donors. Your clinic can also offer you free counselling sessions.

We are here to listen and to offer confidential help and support. Many clinics also offer counselling before, during and after donation.

Yes. At any time following your donation you can ask your clinic about the outcome of your donations. Your clinic can tell you:

• whether there have been any pregnancies
• whether there have been any live birth(s)
• years of birth
• gender of any child(ren) born
• number of children born.

Yes but realistically imposing conditions can limit the number of times your donation can be used in treatments. Most donors’ conditions are connected to issues around religion and culture. In the case of known donation, the donation is conditional upon it being used by a particular recipient.

There’s no limit as such on the number of children that can be born from your donations. However, only 10 families can be created from your donations.

Yes. You have a duty to inform your clinic.

It’s recommended that you have a healthy lifestyle but your clinic will advise you of any specific changes you might need to make.

Clinics have their own individual policies on this issue so check with the clinic you’re thinking about donating to for their most up-to-date advice.

Clinics have their own individual policies on this issue so check with the clinic you’re thinking about donating to for their most up-to-date advice.

Yes, but clinics prefer your BMI to be under 30. This is because being overweight can affect general health and wellbeing.

No.

Clinics will discuss with you the nature of any past and present STIs and whether they are a barrier to you becoming a donor.

Your clinic will want to gather as much information from you as it can about your condition so that it can make a decision on an individual and personal basis about whether you can be a sperm donor. Clinics recognise and acknowledge that everyone’s health and medical backgrounds are different.

Information will be stored confidentially about you.

This is a personal choice although many donors do tell their employers why they are taking time off work.

Your clinic will let you know the reasons you can’t be a donor and will discuss the situation with you and offer support. Your clinic can also advise you about further appropriate support, e.g. GP.

Your clinic will let you know the reasons you can’t be a donor and will discuss the situation with you and offer support. Your clinic can also advise you about further appropriate support, e.g. GP.

Sperm donation is a process that takes place over several months so it’s not possible to just turn up at a clinic and donate.

Sperm donation is a process that takes place over several months so it’s not possible to just turn up at a clinic and donate.

While all donors now have to be identifiable, there is no law that says all donor-conceived people must know of their genetic origins. Some families are very open with their children about their genetic origins while other families don’t tell at all.