Don't forget to ask him where he got his genes!
If you’re in the market for some sperm, you are not alone! There are a lot of people shopping alongside with you. The reason someone may need donor sperm can vary. Sometimes, the intended father’s sperm quality or quantity has been determined to decrease the chance for a successful conception. Other times, donor sperm is needed because the intended parent(s) is female. Often, when selecting sperm, certain characteristics are sought out like height, race, hair color, eye color, how much the donor resembles your own husband, etc. Another characteristic that can be included on that list is the clinic or organization your donor submitted his sperm sample to.
The reason why the clinic or organization matters is because there are differences of how a donor’s health history is screened. Some clinics may take the donor’s word regarding his health history while others will do blood tests to assess his health. An important blood test that some clinics perform is called carrier screening. Carrier screening looks at some of the donor’s genes. Humans have 20,000 genes, and carrier screening can look into as many as 500 genes that we know cause conditions when the genes are not working in the way they should.
A quick refresher on genes: We have two copies of every gene, one copy we inherit from mom/egg donor and the other we inherit from dad/sperm donor. Being a carrier means that one copy of their gene is not working, but since they have another working copy of the gene, they usually do not have symptoms of the condition. However, they can pass the non-working copy to their children. For autosomal recessive conditions, it is typically only concerning when both members of a couple are carriers. If both members of a couple are carriers, then there is a 25% chance for every pregnancy to have the condition they are carriers for.
If the donor is tested for conditions ahead of time, then you can know if there are any conditions he is a carrier for. In the event you are also a carrier of that same condition, then you know it might be best to select a different donor, if you have that option.
Some common genetic conditions carrier screening assesses:
Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Sickle Cell Disease
Beta Thalassemia
Alpha Thalassemia
Gaucher Disease
Familial Dysautonomia
Canavan Disease
Tay Sachs
If someone is looking for an egg donor, then it is also important to know if she has had carrier screening as well, if this is something of interest.
* This blog constitutes general information about genetic testing and medical screening. This blog does not offer or provide medical advice or diagnosis, and nothing in this blog/webinar should be construed as medical advice or diagnosis. Do not rely on the information in this blog/webinar to make medical management decisions. Please consult with a medical professional before making those decisions. Do not delay in seeking professional medical advice if you think you have a medical concern. Do not disregard professional medical advice based on any information received in this blog.
