Anonymous sperm donor

The first Sperm Bank in Spain was established by Dr. Simón Marina, andrologist and Director of the CEFER Institute in 1977. The sperm is frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196ºC. Sperm Bank refers to the container area where the tubes with the sperm are kept.

The sperm that is frozen can come from an ANONYMOUS DONOR who donates his sperm to help a couple or woman have children. This is the most common use of sperm at the CEFER Institute. Sperm can also come from a man who wishes to conserve it for later use. This can be for many reasons, including undergoing treatments that may end his fertility or before a vasectomy.

In the 30 years that the Sperm Bank has been in operation, more than 3,000 babies have been born. According to Spanish Law, donor sperm must be frozen; using fresh sperm from an anonymous donor is prohibited.

How are sperm donors selected?
Notices are posted at university faculties and sperm donors are selected from among students aged 18 to 29 who give their written consent. Their clinical history is taken and they undergo an andrology exam, seminogram and sperm culture, as well as serology tests for AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and chlamydia and blood type and Rh factor testing. Moreover, chromosomal abnormalities in the blood and sperm are ruled out through karyotyping and FISH, as are genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis (mucoviscidosis) and thalassaemia.

Practical aspects
Sperm samples for a couple (or woman) are selected by taking into consideration the husband’s and donor’s race, weight, height and hair and eye colour; and that the donor’s blood type is compatible with the couple’s. If the couple lives outside Barcelona, the frozen sperm can be sent in cryogenic containers to the gynaecology surgery where the AI will be done. The gynaecologist orders the sperm from the Sperm Bank (by phone, fax or email). The sperm samples are sent, if outside Barcelona, in cryogenic containers with liquid nitrogen.