How and where to find sperm donors in the UK

Whether you are a single woman, in a same-sex relationship or a couple experiencing fertility issues, one option when it comes to building your family is to find sperm donors in the UK. This guide will help you find sperm donors in the UK — from licensed sperm banks and fertility clinics to private donors online — so you can make the best decision for you and your future family.

Fortunately, these days there are several ways to obtain donor sperm. You can get vials from UK-based or international sperm banks or fertility clinics. You can also find your donor online, whether on social media or on specialised platforms dedicated to sperm donation.

While searching for the perfect sperm donor, it’s more than likely that you’ll have many questions, such as “how much does it cost to purchase donor sperm?” or “how do I select the right sperm bank or website?” Here’s our complete guide to help you find sperm donors in the UK.

UK Sperm Banks and Fertility Centres

In the UK, you can obtain sperm from either British or international sperm banks. Although most licensed fertility clinics buy vials of sperm from sperm banks, a few of them have their own stock and recruit the donors themselves. This solution is quite convenient, as you can start your fertility treatment in the same clinic that you buy sperm from.

Which Fertility Clinic Should I Choose?

You can obtain donor sperm from a fertility clinic (NHS or private) licensed by the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority). Before making your choice, check the waiting lists for donor sperm first, as the time you have to wait may be especially long at certain clinics.

Donation requirements, as well as the price of donor sperm and treatment costs, vary depending on the facility. If you wish to have your fertility treatment covered by the NHS and you meet all of the requirements, you will need a referral from your GP.

Where Can I Buy a Vial of Sperm from a Sperm Bank in the UK?

There are many sperm banks in the UK that offer a large range of solutions. For a detailed comparison of prices, read our guide on sperm bank prices in London.
At Fairfax Cryobank, you can obtain ICI unwashed sperm from a non-anonymous donor for £630, £701 for an IUI washed vial, and £514 for an IVF unwashed sperm vial. One year of storage is free if you buy six vials. Shipping costs about £160 per container.

With about 10,000 vials in storage, the London Sperm Bank is the largest sperm bank in the UK. To order a sample, you must first register as a patient at a licensed fertility clinic. All donor sperm vials cost £950.

Manchester Fertility has their own sperm bank called Semovo. On buysperm.co.uk, you can purchase vials of sperm and browse donor profiles. Their donation clinics are situated in Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. A single vial costs £850, three ampoules £2,270, and five £3,315.

The London Fertility Centre sperm bank recruits their own donors exclusively for the patients of the centre. Expect to pay £650 per ampoule. Birmingham Women’s Fertility Centre recruit their own donors at Birmingham Spermbank, with a vial from a centre donor costing £430.

Leicester Fertility Centre offers both NHS and private fertility treatments including insemination with donor sperm, and has their own sperm bank.

Can I Buy Sperm from Abroad?

UK fertility clinics are able to import sperm from overseas, but only under certain conditions. You first need to check if the clinic provides import and export services and has the required licence.
Cryos is a Denmark-based sperm bank that exports vials around the world. For a non-anonymous donor, the cost is 378 euros for a low motility IUI-ready vial and 1,183 euros for a high motility vial.

At the European Sperm Bank, an ICI vial from a non-contact donor with high motility costs 274 euros, with an IUI vial at 342€. An open donor ICI vial costs 489€ and an IUI-ready vial is 529€. Delivery costs 275€ including shipping and VAT. Storage is available for up to 10 years: 50€ for 3 months, 175€ for one year.

How Can I Choose and Use Donor Sperm?

What vial to choose depends on the type of fertility treatment you’re about to have. If you will be undergoing IVF, home insemination or intracervical insemination (ICI), you can use either washed or unwashed sperm. If you’re having intrauterine insemination (IUI), you’ll need purified or washed sperm. For more on this, read our artificial insemination sperm donor guide.

If you want to have your treatment performed in a UK fertility clinic, only sperm from open or non-anonymous donors who agree to identity disclosure is acceptable. Buying sperm from an anonymous donor is illegal in the UK.

One vial means one treatment cycle. You may prefer to buy and store several vials — some banks offer discounts if you purchase several samples.

How Are Donors Recruited in UK Sperm Banks?

To qualify as a donor, candidates must be healthy, aged between 18 and 41, have no personal or family history of genetic conditions, agree to identity disclosure when donor-conceived children reach the age of 18, and be willing to commit for at least 6–12 months.

Screening donors is an obligation of HFEA-licensed facilities. All candidates must undergo a series of medical tests to verify that their sperm is of good quality and that they are not carrying any genetic diseases or STDs including syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis and HIV. Read more about what tests a sperm donor should take.
When children conceived via donation reach the age of 16, they are entitled to access non-identifying information. At age 18 they can receive their donor’s identifying information.

Do Sperm Donors Get Paid in the UK?

In the UK it’s illegal to pay a sperm donor. However, donors can obtain £35 compensation for each clinic visit, to cover reasonable expenses such as travel, accommodation or childcare. For more on the legal framework, read our guide on UK sperm donation laws.

Where Can I Find Private Sperm Donors Online?

Another way to find sperm donors in the UK is to select a private or known donor online, via social media or a dedicated website such as CoParents.co.uk. There are many reasons people look for a private donor rather than purchasing vials from a sperm bank. As this is a private arrangement, you can discuss and negotiate the methods of conception that suit you best.

You can also directly contact different donors and even meet them face to face. Moreover, you can decide on the level of contact the donor will have with the future child — a good option for those who want their child to know who their biological father is.

If you choose to find sperm donors in the UK through a private arrangement, whether online or someone you already know, make sure they are free of any STDs, genetic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities. Don’t hesitate to request that they provide their medical documents. You can find out more about what to ask in our article on 22 questions to ask your sperm donor.