Where did you get the sperm from? (if you are doing IUI or IVF in the UK)

[NeedToBeBrave1]

Any advice is appreciated....
I am a bit confused that when I search for a sperm donor, there are so few sperm availability when I set my location in the UK. Many donor sperms are only available when your resident is in Spain etc.
Do you face the same problem? Not sure if I am doing anything wrong.
I am in a slight panic mood, please help and share some tips.
Thank you girls so much in advance.

Someone who has more up-to-date info than me will be along soon I’m sure. I had IUI using donor sperm but actually used a clinic in Denmark.

I know European sperm bank/ cryobank ship to (or certainly did pre-Brexit) to UK clinics. If you sign up with one of the big sperm banks they have good clear info on their site as to how it works and the charges for delivery abroad.

Good luck!

(Ps there's a useful cautionary tale on another MN thread this evening. Definitely stick to your guns and use the official route to find a sperm donor).

@INeedNewShoes Thank you so much for the reply.
I checked on European sperm bank, yes, they do ship to the UK but the available options are very limited...

I think that may be because there are tighter restrictions in the UK, restricting the number of donor children that can be born using a donor to 12.

In other European countries I think the limit is much higher, at something like 25, so it's less limiting for the donors to exclude the UK from the list of nationalities they're willing to donate to.

@INeedNewShoes - I see. No wonder my German friend get it done so quickly.
Not sure what the solution is. Shall I travel to other European countries for the procedure...
There are many women in the UK who are going through IUI and IVF, I am wondering how did they get the sperm donors.

Again, thank you so much. This is a scary journey ...

Uk has strict criteria so only a few donors meet this (it's to do with how many families can be created). We also went to Denmark and had treatment there. More options and much cheaper

Thank you very much! @Arthursmom
Do you need to live in Denmark for a period of time while undergo the treatment? Is it possible to share your clinic's name? (totally understand if you don't want to.)

@NeedToBeBrave1 we used the stork clinic in Copenhagen. You don't need to live there and you can have the initial tests done here also. Travel to and from there isn't that expensive. Many people do it in one day. We stayed a couple of days each time. We went twice and got pregnant second time. IUI.

I have just ordered from Sellmer Diers for shipping here. I agree that there aren't many donors out there at the moment, especially as I wanted a specific hair/eye colour combo (like most people I imagine!). I would say though, initially don't limit your search choices, just see all available donors to give you an idea. Your clinic will have a list they work with but I looked at London Sperm Bank, European Perm Bank, Cryos International, Fairfax, and Sellmer Diers. I have noticed a few more new donors in the last few weeks; I think covid has affected donations previously. But they get snapped up fast! Good luck!

I also went to Storkklinik and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

Flights to Copenhagen are frequent from many UK airports. I had 4 attempts. For one of those I went there and back in a day which was fine but it’s much nicer to stay overnight. I actually enjoyed the travel as part of the process and the fact the treatment costs less than half what it does in the UK more than covers any travel costs.

The clinic helped narrow it down from their own database.