Operation of semen banks

As a result of the advances in the last decades in the field of assisted reproduction and in view of the increase in people with difficulties in procreation, sperm banks are regularly used. In Spain they are regulated according to Law 14/2006 on assisted human reproduction techniques and the Royal Decrees RD 1301/2006, RD 412/1996 and RD 413/1996.

Sperm banks usually work with various health professionals, doctors, nurses, psychologists, biologists and laboratory technicians, who collaborate in the donor selection and advise to people who go to the semen bank to undergo studies and techniques. Most of the stored sperm is used in assisted reproduction. Although I also know freeze and preserve sperm from patients receiving aggressive treatments that can affect your fertilitysuch as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or some surgical techniques. Therefore, many insurers to their clients so that they can choose to become parents in the future in case of serious illness.

Requirements to be a sperm donor

Sperm donors are volunteers and anonymous and they must pass a series of requirements:

• They must have between 18 and 35 years old
• Pass a clinical interview and comprehensive examination to rule out possible congenital pathologies.
• Make a interview with a psychologist to assess possible hereditary psychiatric disorders or psychological disorders.
• Make a blood test to determine HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, cytomegalovirus, and chlamydial infections.
• Perform a test to rule out that the patient is a carrier of genes related to certain congenital diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or fragile X syndrome.

After all this, it is time to collect a sample from the patient that is analyzed to assess the quality of the sperm. What is taken into account is:

• Ejaculation volume and number of spermatozoa (suitable if the concentration is 80 million / ml sperm)
• Mobility (suitable with more than 50%)
• Shape (suitable if the morphology is normal above 15%).

How is the donation made?

Once accepted, the donor must commit to some regular donations, in general one per week with 48 hours of sexual abstinence prior to donation to achieve an adequate ejaculate. The donor goes to the center where they are given a container to collect the sperm, which is obtained through masturbation.