If you are UK or Canada based, it is law that you only use a OPEN donor. This means that when the child reaches the age of 18 they can legally apply to find out who the donor is.

The donor has agreed to this meaning his sperm is UK/CANADIAN compliant & he is aware that any children born from his donations can find out who he is. He CAN however decline contact from them or he can confirm he is happy for them to reach out & contact him.

If you have a CLOSED donor, it means that the child cannot find out who the donor is, it remains private. Some people prefer this, however some do not have a choice as the country they reside in it is law that donors are closed donor.

A known donor is someone you know or have met, or find through organizations like Pride Angel, CoParents or other social channels. Some of these websites require paid subscription & some are free. Some people find donors through friends, family or online through social channels. If you decide to use a known donor, we advise you seek legal advice to get written ‘letters of intent’ drawn up to protect you, the donor & any future children but remember to also check the legalities of your country & who is considered the parents by law. A ‘Letter of Intent’ however is just that- it shows intent at the time of completion but is not legally binding & will not stand up in a court of law.

Although people may be on the same page at the beginning of the journey, feelings & situations may change, things could turn sour or people could change their mind in regards to the level of contact they now want in comparison to what was originally agreed. We would strongly advise to paying for genetic testing & general testing to test the donors sperm mobility & check the donor for STD’s & other infectious diseases. This will ensure you have the best possible chance at a safe & viable pregnancy & protects both you & the child from future issues.

In some cases, your clinic may also have their own pool of donors. When choosing a donor, ensure you’re also aware of the donor’s disclosure (whether they’re an Open donor or Unknown donor). The law differs in some countries, so ensure you are aware before you decide. They will either have their own donors who they have collected sperm from or they purchase them from worldwide sperm banks in bulk- be aware some clinics will only provide you with ‘brown hair, 6’1’’, green eyes & basic information. If you want a full breakdown on your donor including images you will want to use a sperm bank.

If you choose to use a sperm bank it will depend on what your requirements are, & in some cases location may help your choice; however nearly all sperm banks ship worldwide- just check their lead times for shipping to ensure you can get it shipped in time (many operate lead times of five to fourteen days from point of ‘sale’).

Many sperm banks give you full history of the donor along with images, recordings & donors undergo multiple genetic screenings- in most cases only 1-4% of donor applicants are accepted by most sperm banks. Most sperm banks hold donors of many nationalities, & dependant on clinic offer genetic testing, baby images, adult images & even some offer a full breakdown of features, IQ, interests, immediate family details, any genetic conditions, or illnesses within the family & some even provide recordings.

Some sperm banks however may only provide basic information ‘blonde hair, blue eyes, 5’2’, & this is the case with some clinics pool of donors they have limited information (but some people are more than happy with this, & feel this is all they need!)

In some countries, their Law means that you can only use an Unknown donor (for example in Spain) & this law has been in place for decades. Many use their countries clinics for ease, or even wish to have an unknown donor & some people travel to have an unknown or closed donor- all journeys & decisions should be respected as people have different reasons for choosing their routes.