All the answers about infertility

of Ova donors

• How many times can I donate ova?
  
  

  The number of cycles that can be carried out in the clinic depends on various factors. However, the law on Assisted Reproduction establishes that the maximum number of children born in Spain from ova from the same donor cannot exceed 6.
  

  
• Can I have sexual relations during the treatment?
  
  

  During the ovarian stimulation until the new menstruation after the follicular puncturing, sexual relations are not advisable due to the risk of multiple gestation and the risk of ovarian torsion.
  

  
• Can I donate if I have had tubular ligation? And if I have an IUD?
  
  

  Yes, both tubal ligation and IUD are contraceptive methods that do not interfere in ovarian activity, so in both cases you can be a donor.

   

  
• Can I donate if I am taking birth control drugs?
  
  

  Yes, but not during the treatment. Ovarian stimulation treatment means making the ovary produce more ova through medication, so during the days that the treatment takes place contraceptive pills cannot be taken. You will be informed of when you have to stop taking the contraceptive pills.

   

  
• Can I know the identity of the children born by Assisted Reproduction?
  
  

  No. There is total anonymity. The law expressly forbids revealing the identity of children born with these techniques. Therefore, neither the donors can know the children, nor the children can know them.

   

  
• Do I have to be admitted and stay over to carry out the follicular puncturing?
  
  

  The follicular puncturing takes place in the operating theatre under general sedation, but only requires a stay at the clinic of 2-3 hours. After the gynaecologist evaluates you again you will be discharged with precise recommendations.
  

  
• What risks are there for me if I donate ova?
  
  

  Practically none. The process is generally well tolerated, and only exceptionally leads to some risk such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which is an exaggerated response to the treatment.
   
  Other risks that have been described, such as infection, hemoperitoneum, or ovarian torsion only occur in exceptional cases. In any case, the treatment is personalised and a regular check is kept on the donor to minimise any risk.

   

  
• Does ova donation have side effects?
  
  

  No. There is no increase in weight, nor earlier menopause, nor an increase in the incidence of cancer, nor is there a sudden appearance of acne or hair, as is mistakenly believed.
  It is true that there is a slight increase in body volume with the treatment due to the retention of liquids, similar to what happens during menstruation. These symptoms are absolutely normal and only occur during the treatment.
  

  
• Will I be able to have children in future if I donate ova?
  
  

  Yes, donating ova does not mean that you will run out of ova, nor that your eventual loss of them will be sooner. Women are born with between 500,000 and 1,000,000 ova. From birth, ova are lost as they die out over time and after menstruations. In each normal cycle, various ova begin to grow but in the end only one grows sufficiently in order to be able to ovulate. With the treatment, we get several to reach the sufficient size to mature without affecting the total number of ova that the woman has.

   

  
• What steps do I have to take?
  
  

  It’s quite simple. It all begins with an interview to get to know your medical record. Here we will also explain to you the details of the donation procedure. You will be informed about the steps to follow at all times.
   

  After a transvaginal ultrasound scan and a psychological evaluation to check that you are perfect, the beginning of the treatment is programmed.
   
  From now on, a series of visits take place in a short period of time. On each visit we take care to see that everything is correct and that the treatment is working well.
   

  Follicular puncturing, when everything ends, will take place in the operating theatre under general sedation. The procedure lasts approximately 10-20 minutes. Afterwards, you will remain in the clinic for 2-3 hours, at which point the medical staff will be able to give you the medical discharge.

   

  
• What does the treatment involve?
  
  

  The aim is for your ovaries to produce more ova, and these excess ova may be donated to women who need them. To achieve this, it is necessary for you to take medication for 10-12 days.

   

  
• What requisites must I fulfil?
  
  

  - You must be a woman of between 18 and 34 years of age.
  - You must live near (30-40 km) to one of the clinics that has an ova bank, or regularly visit the city.
  - You must be healthy. You cannot have any sexually or genetically transmissible disease.

   

  
• Is there any economic compensation?
  
  

  Yes. There is economic compensation for this activity due to the trouble taken, which is subject to the Spanish Law on Assisted Reproduction and the Spanish Fertility Society.

   

  
• What is ova donation?
  
  

  This is a voluntary, altruistic act of solidarity by which young women undergo ovarian stimulation treatment for the purpose of donating their ova to women who need them to be able to achieve the desired pregnancy.

   

  

of Semen donors

• When do I stop being a donor?
  
  

  When you wish and also in the following cases:
  •      When the quality of the semen in repeated samples does not allow for it to be frozen or when, after freezing, the survival rate is not acceptable.
  •      When anomalies are detected in the regular analyses that are carried out.
  •      When the number of gestations recommended by law has been reached with a donor’s semen.
  

  
• How long do I have to be in the clinic each time?
  
  

  Approximately 15 minutes per visit (except the first times and when filling in the necessary consent forms).
  

  
• What steps do I have to take?
  
  

  After a brief interview you will be able to attend to deliver a semen sample which will be analysed. If the semen meets the requisites of quality, we will go on to carry out health and psychological check-ups. If everything is in order, you can be a semen donor.
   
  From this point on, you must attend the centre weekly over a variable period of time which will depend on the regularity and quality of the semen samples.
   
  The previous check-ups will be repeated every so often, but always the least amount of times as possible in order to avoid bothering you.
   

   

  
• Can I know, or will somebody know, the fate of my samples?
  
  

  No. The Law specifically forbids revealing the destination or origin of the samples; that is to say, it shall be completely anonymous for both the donor and the receiver.

   

  
• How many times do I have to go to the clinic?
  
  

  Once a week, over a variable period of time in which holiday periods are taken into account, as is the impossibility of meeting certain appointments punctually.
  

  
• If I am a donor, will I need to take some kind of treatment?
  
  

  This is not necessary under any circumstances.
  

  
• What requisites must I fulfil?
  
  

  •      You must be a man of between 18 and 35 years of age.
  •      You must live near (30-40 km) to one of the clinics that has a Semen Bank, or regularly visit the city since donation requires weekly visits over some months.
  •      You cannot have any sexually or genetically transmissible disease.

   

  
• Is there any economic compensation?
  
  

  Yes. There is economic compensation for this activity due to the trouble taken, which is subject to the Spanish Law on Assisted Reproduction and the Spanish Fertility Society.

   

  
• What is semen donation?
  
  

  This is a voluntary, altruistic act of solidarity in which a healthy man with very good semen quality cedes said semen for it to be used to fulfil the dream of a couple that has reproduction problems.