Lydia
November 25, 2024
Reading time: 4 minutes
Some people think of it as a hobby, but in reality, you can make a decent amount of money by donating your sperm.
Healthy sperm from donors considered to have good genes and an impressive education are sought. It’s also not difficult to donate.
Sperm donation
Some people need to use donated sperm to start a family. This could be due to various reasons.
This may be because a man is producing poor quality sperm, or not enough sperm, or because he carries a genetic disease that he does not want to pass on to his child. Single women and women in same-sex couples also need donor sperm to start their own families.
You can also choose to donate your sperm to research into infertility, genetic diseases and fertility treatments.
How much can you earn from sperm donation?
It is illegal to pay sperm donors more than their reasonable expenses in the UK.
But that doesn’t mean you won’t get paid for your time and travel.
Sperm donors receive around £35 per clinic visit to cover their expenses.
Sometimes there is more available if your travel, accommodation or childcare costs are higher than that.
What you need to know about sperm donation
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about sperm donation:
Can you donate sperm anonymously?
No, the law regarding donations was changed in 2005.
This means that anyone conceived with the help of a donor can request their biological father’s name, date of birth and last known address when they turn 18.
Do I have any legal rights or responsibilities towards children born through my donation?
No.
Provided you donate through an approved UK fertility clinic; you will have no legal rights or responsibilities for donor-conceived children.
You will have no say in their education and no legal obligation to help care for them.
However, if you donate outside of a clinic, the situation could become more difficult since you could be considered the legal father of the child.
You can learn more about the laws surrounding sperm donation here.
Am I eligible to donate?
Donors must be over 18 and under 46.
In some special cases, an older donor may be permitted if the clinic considers that sperm donation is unlikely to result in serious consequences.
You will also need to pass various health checks, including testing for HIV and hepatitis. These can take up to six months.
What is the sperm donation process?
Personal information:
The clinic you work with will ask you to provide certain personal information.
Certain non-identifying information will be provided to intended parents at the time of donation.
Any children born from your donation will be able to access non-identifying information when they turn 16. At 18, they will be able to ask for your identifying information.
You will also have the opportunity to write a personal description to help potential parents make their decision.
Health tests:
You will be tested for certain conditions, including serious genetic conditions, before you can donate.
Clinics carefully examine the well-being of the unborn child to prevent them from developing serious health problems.
It is also important to inform your clinic of any problems in your or your family’s medical history, as failure to do so could result in legal action if a child born from your donation inherits them.
Advice :
The clinic you use is legally required to offer you advice before donating.
This will allow you to discuss the implications of your donation and how it might affect you and your family in the future.
Consent:
Before making a donation, you must consent in writing. You can withdraw or change your consent at any time up to the time your sperm is used in the treatment.
Make a donation:
You should normally visit the clinic once a week for 3 to 6 months to make your donation.
Once your donation is collected, it will be frozen to be used for treatment, research or training.
Can I know if my donation was successful?
You can apply to find out if your donation was successful. You will be able to receive the number of children born, their sex and their year of birth.
You will not receive any information revealing the identity of the child.
Can I change my mind?
You can change your mind about your donation until it is used in someone’s treatment.
This is true even if you have given your consent.
What about the emotional impact of a donation?
You will be offered advice before donating to ensure you are comfortable with donating.
Remember that at some point one or more children born from your donation may contact you and you must prepare for this.
In the future, you may have your own family and you will need to think about how to approach the subject with them.
What are the next steps?
If you have decided to donate, you should find a clinic that accepts donors. You can find a local clinic via this database.
MoneyMagpie is not a medical affiliate and does not advertise fertility procedures in any way. We emphasize, however, that it is possible to make money in this area and that we also emphasize psychological consideration.
