Therapeutic Donor Insemination (TDI) is a treatment used for treating severe male factor infertility in heterosexual couples, for single women and same sex (lesbian) couples. This treatment involves purchasing frozen sperm samples from a sperm bank, thawing the sample and placing it high in the uterus (intrauterine insemination – IUI) just before ovulation. This procedure is performed by our nurses and normally is not painful or difficult. Donor sperm can also be used for other treatment options such as IVF.

Sperm samples are purchased by patients directly from any of these sperm banks: Origin Sperm Bank (Toronto, Ontario), Can-Am Cryoservices (Hamilton, Ontario) and Canada Cryobank (Hamilton, Ontario). Counselors at the sperm banks assist patients with the selection of a suitable sperm donor. Once purchased, the sperm bank will ship the selected donor cryopreserved sample(s) to our clinic for storage and future use. The collection, processing, storage, distribution and use of donor sperm in Canada are regulated by federal semen regulations. The Regional Fertility Program is licensed by Health Canada to perform donor sperm procedures.

Commercial sperm banks have screening and testing processes for the evaluation of potential donors, which must comply with Health Canada regulations. They obtain information such as personal medical and family histories, physical examination and targeted genetic screening. Details of specific screening tests and procedures can be obtained directly from the commercial sperm bank. However, no guarantee can be made concerning the health of any child conceived through and born as a result of assisted reproductive procedures with donor sperm.

It is important you take this information into consideration before you choose your donor. If you are planning to use a donor with increased genetic risk, it is recommended that you discuss this with your fertility physician before you finalize your decision.

When your donor sample(s) arrive at RFP, the donor bank will send along a summary document that provides information on infectious disease testing and to varying extents, genetic information on the donor. As per Health Canada regulations, your fertility physician needs to review this document to advise you of the risk of infectious and genetic disease transmission before you can proceed with donor treatment. RFP has requested the donor banks to provide all relevant information about the infectious disease and genetic disease screening in the summary document and rely on them to do so. If you have been notified by the donor bank(s) about any infectious and genetic disease concerns regarding your donor, please notify your fertility physician in case this information is not included in the summary document.

Following this review, you will be sent a “Communication of Risk of Using Donor Gametes” form for you to sign. Your signature(s) need(s) to be witnessed for the form to be valid. Please note that the Regional Fertility Program cannot guarantee the validity of the data obtained from the sperm donors as this is the responsibility of the commissioning sperm bank screening process.

Health Canada requires that all sperm donors have their samples processed in a way that meets strict screening requirements for health and safety reasons. This processing can only be carried out by a licensed processing facility. These strict requirements also applies to potential known donors whom you may ask to be your sperm donor (i.e. friend, acquaintance). Regional Fertility Program has a license for processing activities and is currently able to carry out processing for patients seeking IVF and IUI with a known sperm donor.

All patients/couples using sperm donation meet with our clinical psychologist to discuss the unique issues encountered when considering third party reproduction.