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Conception

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Original poster

Advice re sperm donation please

21 replies

Dramallama82 · 04/02/2021 09:03

Hi there, I'm sure this has been asked before but I am looking advice from anyone who has conceived through sperm donation. Could you please share things like how much it cost (I don't have much money), how many attempts for success, whether you had to go through a clinic etc.

I'm 39 and have just come out of another bad relationship so see this as my only option if I want to have a child, which I desperately do. Thank you.

OP posts:
PatsyStone39 · 04/02/2021 10:01

That's tough to answer as It's completely subjective. Several of us will probably give you a different answer, but i'll give you our experience.

We used Cryos in Denmark and also a Danish fertility clinic (it's far cheaper for treatment there than here). We tried for years at home, whilst it was still legal to do so (the laws changed in 2019) and didn't get pregnant. It took us 5 IUI attempts. All in all I estimate we spent over £50,000.

To break costs down. For one MOT10 vial of sperm, you're looking at £1000+ depending on the donor and another couple of hundred for shipping.. Then, if you use a clinic here to do IUI, you're going to pay another £800-1500, plus cost of drugs.

So, I would budget around £2500 per try.

The Danish clinics are around £300 per IUI so that may be something to consider? It also takes away the huge shipping costs.

There are websites for men offering sperm free....but I really would not recommend this method, for obvious reasons.

Original poster
Dramallama82 · 04/02/2021 10:16

This has been so helpful. Thank you so much. If it costs that much anyway it is definitely worth considering actually going to Denmark to go to a clinic there rather than have it shipped to a UK clinic.
I've seen a site called co-parent where men are offering sperm for free but can't even begin to imagine the logistics of that and whether it's men just after sex. Hard to tell from initial reading as you have to subscribe to read messages. Also, I don't particularly want to co-parent with a stranger.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dramallama82 · 04/02/2021 10:17

@PatsyStone39 meant to tag you sorry so you know I replied and am grateful.Smile

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PatsyStone39 · 04/02/2021 10:25

You're welcome! If I can help in anyway, I will. I remember how daunting it all was when we started out.

The Danish clinic was incredible (Ciconia in Aarhus.) We actually started out at a London clinic but the prices were astronomical and they just kept adding things on all the time. In fact, they took us to see the inhouse accountant before we saw a Dr!!

Yes, those sites are toxic. You will find the odd man offering from the goodness of his heart, but the rest seem to be there for the sex. We did look at it initially but it made my blood run cold at the thought.

Would finding a co-parent with a single gay male or a gay male couple be an idea? I know that's not for everyone, either.

PatsyStone39 · 04/02/2021 10:30

Also, take a look at the Fertilityfriend forum. Folk don't seem to post much any more, but there is a donor section and reading those threads will be incredibly helpful to you. There's also a section on the foreign clinics (places like Greece, Spain etc offer very competitively priced fertility packages.) It would be good to read about all your options.

SatsumasOrClementines · 04/02/2021 10:42

The problem with those sites is that no one’s sperm has been through health checks. Donor sperm from a clinic is health checked and motility checked.

MotherExtraordinaire · 04/02/2021 11:40

Remember if you use those sites, the donor is not a legal donor he is viewed as a father and has the rights and responsibilities of a father.

BritInAus · 04/02/2021 11:42

My child was conceived via artificial insemination at home (no clinic involved) with a known donor (a friend). They had all relevant health and sperm checks and we engaged a family law specialist to draw up a contract to protect all parties. It's not only a case of clinics / IVF.

carcarbinks · 04/02/2021 11:43

Speak to your GP - they will refer you to a reputable clinic and you might get one attempt on the NHS.

Original poster
Dramallama82 · 04/02/2021 11:55

@carcarbinks I didn't think that would be an option. I will definitely do that thanks.

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PatsyStone39 · 04/02/2021 12:43

[quote Dramallama82]@carcarbinks I didn't think that would be an option. I will definitely do that thanks.[/quote]
It's doubtful you will be, OP. This is from the fertility network...

"I am single. Am I eligible for NHS funding?

In general, NHS funding is only available to couples and not to single women. Wales does offer treatment to single women, and full details are available on our NHS Funding Wales page. In England, individual Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) set their own policy. You can contact your CCG directly to find out this information."

MotherExtraordinaire · 04/02/2021 13:13

@BritInAus

My child was conceived via artificial insemination at home (no clinic involved) with a known donor (a friend). They had all relevant health and sperm checks and we engaged a family law specialist to draw up a contract to protect all parties. It's not only a case of clinics / IVF.
In the UK, you cannot sign away rights in that manner. So no such agreements hold weighr over here, I'm afraid.
MotherExtraordinaire · 04/02/2021 13:19

I could not get treatment on the nhs, not had time to wait to meet the maximum age threshold by waiting. And I had and still have underlying fertility issues.

Very few ccgs do provide. And often have have restrictions like must have had 6 cycles of Iui they have paid for example.

Waiting2BAMummy · 04/02/2021 19:50

@Dramallama82 there is a new clinic in the midlands that you can have sperm shipped to now that they are not shipping to home addresses. You can either go there an insert the goods yourself or you can pay an additional £150 and a nurse will do it for you.

MotherExtraordinaire · 04/02/2021 23:12

[quote Waiting2BAMummy]@Dramallama82 there is a new clinic in the midlands that you can have sperm shipped to now that they are not shipping to home addresses. You can either go there an insert the goods yourself or you can pay an additional £150 and a nurse will do it for you.[/quote]
That's an interesting diversification. I wonder what they charge for the receiving and short term storage, given its solely circa 1k a year for storage...

Waiting2BAMummy · 05/02/2021 00:04

I’ll try and find the link for the clinic @MotherExtraordinaire might be worth a chat with them. A lady on the conception board was talking about them, she has used them twice now and said they are really lovely ladies and are happy to answer any questions.

bitheby · 05/02/2021 01:55

It was £500 to inseminate there plus £550 for the sperm if you use their donors.

It's in Shrewsbury.

Waiting2BAMummy · 05/02/2021 03:43

Is the £150 for them to do it in addition to that @bitheby or have you included that on the £500?

Waiting2BAMummy · 05/02/2021 03:43

*in not on

Shaniac · 05/02/2021 03:53

Where abouts are you op as people may be able to recommend local clinics. I know liverpool has the hewitt center with prices on their website and Manchester has one too.

Original poster
Dramallama82 · 05/02/2021 06:09

Hi everyone, thank you so much for all the advice. I'm Northern Ireland if anybody can please help?

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