Ethical & Legal Considerations for Recipients
Understanding the legal and ethical landscape of donor sperm treatment is essential for both donors and recipients.
This section outlines key regulations, legal responsibilities, and ethical considerations that ensure safe and compliant sperm donation and use.
Global & Local Donors
At London Sperm Bank, we are committed to the highest ethical and legal standards in donor sperm banking. Our practices are fully licensed and regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), ensuring compliance with UK law and international best practices.
We provide both Global and Local Donors to meet diverse needs:
- Global Donors – These donors have consented to international use and may have more than 10 families worldwide.
- Local Donors – These donors are only used in the UK and can consent to helping up to 10 families.
All donors receive implications counselling to fully understand the impact of their donation and decide whether to be a Global or Local Donor.
Regulatory Compliance & Licensing
London Sperm Bank (LSB) is a fully licensed sperm bank operating under HFEA regulations (License No. L0070-21-b). All sperm samples are procured, tested, processed, and stored in compliance with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990, as amended), the European Tissues and Cells Directive (EUTCD), and UK guidelines for donor screening and medical safety.
Our procedures ensure that all sperm donors meet strict health, genetic, and ethical requirements before their samples are made available.
Donor Anonymity & Information Disclosure
We prioritise donor confidentiality while ensuring transparency for recipients and donor-conceived children.
Non-identifying donor information, such as physical traits, education, and interests, is provided to recipients through our donor catalogue. Identifying donor information is protected under UK law, but donor-conceived children have the right to request identifying details when they turn 18.
Donors do not receive identifying information about recipients or children born from their donations. However, they may receive non-identifying updates, including the number of children conceived, their year of birth, and their biological sex.
Legal Parenthood & Recipient Responsibilities
Under UK law, sperm donors are not the legal parent of any child conceived using their sperm. If sperm is used at an HFEA-licensed clinic, the recipient (and their partner, if applicable) will be the legal parent(s). Donors cannot claim parental rights over donor-conceived children.
Recipients must report their treatment outcomes to ensure legal family limits are upheld. Before proceeding with treatment, all patients must register at an HFEA-licensed fertility clinic, receive counselling on the implications of using donor sperm, and be informed of donor screening limitations and risks.
Family Limits & Ethical Usage
To protect donor-conceived children and maintain ethical sperm donation practices, UK law enforces a 10-family limit per Local Donor. Local Donors can only help up to 10 families in the UK. Global Donors, on the other hand, have consented to international use and may have more than 10 families worldwide.
If a donor’s sperm is used outside the UK, the recipient should confirm local legal and ethical requirements.
Sibling Treatment: Families wishing to use the same donor for siblings should secure multiple vials in advance, as availability cannot be guaranteed later.
Counselling & Support
The HFEA strongly recommends that all recipients undergo implications counselling through their fertility treatment centre before proceeding with donor sperm treatment. This ensures they fully understand the emotional, legal, and practical implications of donor conception.
Please Note: London Sperm Bank is not a treatment centre. We provide counselling only for donors to help them understand the impact of their decision. Patients seeking counselling should arrange this directly with their fertility clinic at which they are receiving treatment.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help
Understanding the legal and ethical considerations of donor sperm treatment is important, and we’re here to support you. If you need further guidance, our team is available to answer your questions.