Sperm donations are of great importance in the fertility process and allow many infertile or homosexual couples to fulfill their dream of having a family. In the case of proven male infertility, it is often an abnormality or a qualitative defect in the sperm that is at fault, and the use of sperm donation then becomes necessary.
Procrea fertility clinics use sperm banks with many anonymous and voluntary donors to allow in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).
In this article, we explain more in depth the donation process and eligibility criteria.
Who can become a sperm donor?
In Canada, there are several selection criteria that must be met in order to donate sperm.
To become a sperm donor, you must first meet the following criteria:
- be between 18 and 39 years of age
- be in good health (no known chronic or genetic illnesses in the family)
- Know your biological parents
- Not be a sperm donor in another clinic.
- Have a valid health insurance card (RAMQ).
Once these eligibility criteria are met, you will be asked to undergo several tests and examinations.
What are the different tests and examinations for eligibility?
To begin with, a first sperm donation will be performed in order to evaluate the quality of the sperm and particularly the spermatozoa. More specifically, the number, motility, morphology and reaction to freezing are analyzed.
Next, a screening will be performed to verify that the results of the following STIs are negative. This screening will be done once at the beginning of the collection of the sperm samples, and then a second time after they have been quarantined for 6 months.
| CMV (IgG-IgM) | Anti-HBc Totals |
| HIV 1-2 | Anti-HCV (hepatitis C) |
| HLTVI-VII | Syphilis |
| AgHbs (hepatitis B surface antigen) | Gonorrhea et Chlamydia |
In conjunction with the screening, the donor will be asked to complete three questionnaires:
- A medical questionnaire;
- A questionnaire on genetic diseases;
- A form on exclusion criteria.
Finally, a last genetic test will be requested to verify the negativity to these three diseases:
- Karyotype;
- French-Canadian panel;
- X-Fragile.
Once all the tests have been completed, the donor’s medical file is reviewed and must be accepted by the sperm bank’s medical director.
How does the sperm donor fit into Canadian law?
All sperm donations are regulated by Health Canada. For a fertility treatment, Procrea Fertility uses the following external Canadian distributors CAN-AM, ZYTEX CANADA, REPROMED. In Canada, semen for assisted reproduction is regulated by the Food and Drugs Act and the Semen Regulations, which aim to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases to recipients.