Debunking sperm donation misconceptions – Fertility with Dr Kirkman-Brown.
We spoke with Dr Jackson Kirkman-Brown, the Scientific Lead of Fertility at our Women’s Hospital who shared important insights on why sperm donation is generally misconceived as an act of ‘money-making’ when in truth, spermatozoa donation is a generous act to support families and single people who are unable to have families of their own without clinical intervention.
There are many reasons why people seek sperm donations outside of genetic infertility including injuries involving testicular trauma in physically demanding, high-risk occupations; childhood cancer and past use of chemotherapy treatments which can also cause infertility, preventing many from being able to have their own children.
Dr Kirkman-Brown said it was an issue that affects more individuals and families than people realise. Dr Kirkman-Brown has recently been appointed in a national role as the Chair of the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS) following on from his work as a Reader in Human Reproductive Sciences at UoB.
Often, he said: “One in fifty men have no spermatozoa at all and around one in six couples encounter difficulties when trying to conceive – this can be so emotionally distressing to those going through this.
“Those who donate are very special people who often understand how precious it is to be able to bring your own children into the world, however, very sadly this is not the case for everyone.
“There are many unknown emotional and physical challenges attached with sperm donation and we think it’s really important that we recognise the selflessness of these donations, despite the many misconceptions surrounding sperm donation”
“Sperm donation is a quick way to make money”
Donors receive only £35.00 per sample and they can also only have a maximum of ten families to donate to. Furthermore, the laws surrounding anonymity mean that children conceived through sperm donation can approach their donor at the age of 18.
There are many factors that can be emotionally challenging to donors that outweigh the small financial gain from sperm donation. Donors are always referred to counselling so that they can mentally prepare and assure themselves for the process of sperm donation.
“Any man can donate sperm”
Not everyone is able to donate sperm, even men with a regular sperm count (15-200 million/millilitre), because many spermatozoa cannot survive being frozen at –196 degrees Celsius. Even if sperm is successfully frozen, donors also have to go through sexual health and genetic screenings
Many men who donate often have children of their own and recognise the positive impact that their children have had on their own lives, wanting to allow another family to experience the same joys. A great deal of compassion and empathy is required to donate.
“It’s common for men to walk into clinics on the day to donate sperm”
There is a great level of consideration needed behind offering donations which often deters men when they become aware of the associated challenges. The removal of anonymity opens can be an emotionally challenging situation as children born from donations can approach their donors. This is why counselling is offered to our donors to ensure the decision is the correct one for them, ahead of addressing our need for donations. This process takes time and consideration – it isn’t something that people can just do ‘on the day’.
“Sperm donation is easy to do”
Compared to other donor processes, sperm donation is the only procedure that requires the donor to masturbate and ejaculate which is an incredibly private act to have to do, particularly in a clinical environment. This can often be another challenge that would make men more reluctant to donate.
Dr Kirkman-Brown said: “There is quite a large stigma around sperm donation that deters donations, possibly because male masturbation is seen as in public opinion as ‘dirty’ or an easy way to make quick money, which tarnishes the act of donating when sperm donation is actually helping so many people to have the families that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to have.”
Donating is an incredibly altruistic act and we would like to say ‘thank you’ to our donors for helping those unable to have children build the families that they otherwise would not have been able to have.
If you’d like to support a family by donating, you can visit our sperm donations page here for further information on how you can get involved.