Importing sperm from overseas?

[sensiblefootwear]

Hi there everyone.

Really keen to hear any words of wisdom or just experiences of other SS couples who have had fertility treatment with sperm donors from abroad. Which UK clinic did you use, how complicated was it, any things to know etc etc.

I am UK based and we would probably import from EU or US as that is where we are more likely to find a donor who has a similar background to my partner.

Thanks so much!

Hey,

I hope you get an answer to your question, I'd like to know the answer too.

We conceived our 2 year old using AI, had to meet our donor monthly which wasn't easy as he travels for work.

We conceived on month 7 and plan to do the same again next time but would look into international sperm banks if he was unable to commit.

We're using the European Sperm Bank. Prices have gone up recently (I don't know if its covid or brexit!).

The hardest bit of using a sperm bank is picking your donor! Once we'd pick, they ship directly to your clinic. Our clinic was willing to receive sperm from a few different banks, but said that Cryos had been in trouble for not following HEFA regulations lately.

Are you looking at trying IUI?

To my knowledge Cryos is fully approved by the HFEA and there are no issues.

We used Fairfax Cryobank based in the US, they have a UK base in Manchester where the sperm gets shipped to and then it goes from there to your clinic. No problems ordering other than it being more expensive than sourcing in the UK and remembering to filter by those willing to be ID'd to comply with UK law (we were spoiled for choice tbh). Clinic were very impressed with the sample (pre washed and 18m swimmers) and we only needed one of the two vials we ordered so still have one stored for attempt 2 if needed. Had first IUI last week, still waiting to test.

Thanks so much for all your replies.

@Beanybob I hope you're lucky this time! Xx

We used European Sperm bank due to the amount of info you get on the profile for the standard price.
Saying that, the standard price, including shipping and import and storage costs for just two vials came to £2500!
We are using Kings Fertility. Crap admin team, lots of mishaps, but medical team very good, great facilities and slightly cheaper than purely private clinics.
Currently awaiting embryo transfer but whether we succeed I don't think is to do with the clinic but to do with how nature reacts with medicine and sometimes it takes a few goes wherever you go.

I'm a single queer parent and I used the European Sperm Bank. I'd been trying with a friend but it hadn't worked and we then found out that I would need IVF to conceive. Due to Covid and his living in the USA it was decided that a sperm donor was the way to go.

Using the Agora in Brighton it was really easy. I chose the sperm on the ESB website and I had to list my fertility clinic. I informed my clinic and when I started treatment they arranged for shipping.

The cost of the sperm had been included in the provisional price I'd been given by my clinic so although it was paid separately it was within the amount I'd expected from the start.

I got crazy lucky and IVF worked first time so I spent about £7,000 total. I still have some frozen embryos and 1 straw of sperm should I wish to use them further down the line but with a 1 month old that seems a long way off.

The info on the ESB was so detailed and I can't think of a reason for choosing that wasn't covered but in the end I went with my gut.

It's not cheep but the Agora were just so wonderful. They made me feel seen and heard and cared for. From the receptionist through the lab team, nurses and doctors. Professional and kind from my first test where we discovered the problem (pre pandemic) through to treatment (mid lockdown) I don't have a bad word to say about them.