Donations
Are you considering becoming a sperm or oocyte donor. Then, no doubt, you have a lot of questions. Below, we will help you get started.
Sperm donation
Sperm donation is suggested when it is impossible to obtain sperm from the male partner. It can also be considered within a lesbian relationship or for single women. Depending on the type of donation, the identity of the donor may or may not be disclosed to the prospective parents.
Why is donation needed?
More and more couples’ wish for children is not getting fulfilled. As more lesbian couples and single women want children, there has been an increasing demand for donor sperm in recent years.
Who can become a donor?
Any healthy man between the ages of 20 and 40 can volunteer as a sperm donor candidate.
How do I become a sperm donor?
If you have decided to become a donor, we will first examine your general health condition. Using a blood sample, you will be tested for transmissible diseases and hereditary conditions. You also provide a sperm sample that is frozen as a test as some sperm samples do not survive the freezing process.
Are there any risks involved?
No, there are no risks involved in sperm donation.
Am I anonymous as a donor?
The donation can be either anonymous or non-anonymous. In an anonymous donation, the intended parents and any children born from them do not know who you are. Therefore, you do not know who the wish parents are and whether any children are born from them.
What happens after the donation?
When donating, you completely part with the sperm, which is then stored in a sperm bank. The donation is therefore irrevocable. After a legally required quarantine period, the sperm may be used. A blood sample is taken from the donor after the donation to test for transmissible diseases.
How many couples are you donating for?
A donor may conceive an ongoing pregnancies in a maximum of 6 couples. However, within one family, multiple children can be born from the same donor.
Is there any financial compensation?
Belgian law does not allow the commercial trade of human body material. So there is no financial reward for your donation but you may receive an expense allowance.
Oocyte donation
Oocyte donation involves a woman having oocytes retrieved to donate them to another woman for use in fertility treatment. Through these treatments, women with hormonal or hereditary disorders or insufficient quality oocytes due to early menopause or advanced age can still get pregnant. Moreover, donor oocytes can prevent the transmission of hereditary defects. Depending on the type of donation,, the identity of the donor may or may not be disclosed to the wish parents.
Why is donation needed?
Research shows that one in six couples struggle with fertility problems. In the case of the woman, oocyte production may be disrupted, causing few or no eggs to mature or they may not develop as they should. Therefore, through egg donation, pregnancy can still happen.
Who can become a donor?
Any healthy woman aged between 18 and 35 can be a candidate donor. We do prefer women who have already been pregnant themselves and preferably do not smoke.
How do I become an oocyte donor?
If you have decided to become a donor, we will first examine your general and gynaecological health condition. Based on a blood sample, you will be tested for transmissible diseases and hereditary disorders. Psychological counselling is also provided during this process.
How does the donation proceed?
First, hormones are administered to mature the oocytes. This may cause some physical discomfort, which disappears again by itself afterwards. The matured oocytes are then retrieved under light anaesthesia. There is a small risk of infection here, but usually the procedure goes off without any problems.
Am I anonymous as a donor?
Donation can be either anonymous or non-anonymous. In an anonymous donation, the wish parents and any children born from them do not know who you are. Therefore, you do not know who the wish parents are and whether any children are born from them.
What happens after the donation?
When you donate, you completely part with the donor material. The donation is irrevocable.
How many couples are you donating for?
A donor may conceive pregnancies in a maximum of 6 couples. However, within one family, multiple children can be born from the same donor.
Is there any financial compensation?
Belgian law does not allow the commercial trade of human body material. So there is no financial reward for your donation but you may receive an expense allowance.
Life Leuven
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Personalised care is at the utmost importance to us. Every story is unique; every treatment should be too.
We are highly aware of the emotional impact of the treatment, and offer the possibility of support from a professional.
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We are a multidisciplinary team that includes highly specialised professionals, each with their own expertise.
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Safety and quality are guaranteed by certified procedures and daily quality control
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Flexible hours for cycle monitoring and consultations at our various locations make it easier to combine your treatment with your personal and professional life.
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We continuously choose the most innovative techniques and treatments. From IVF, ICSI and oocyte donation to vitrification and PGT. We offer the possibility of high-level techniques for selected cases, such as the ERA test, endometrial scratching, etc.
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