The technique of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has largely solved the problems of male-factor infertility, making it possible for men with poor semen quality to father children. Where there are no sperm at all (azoospermia), however, donor sperm is needed if the couple is to have a child.
Who it is for
- Couples facing male infertility (azoospermia, or men with extremely poor semen quality).
- Cases where there is a risk of a serious genetic disease being passed on to the children through the man.
- Same-sex female couples.
- Women without a partner.
What Greek law provides
The Greek state has passed laws governing the use and movement of donors' genetic material. Under Greek law the following applies.
- Sperm donors must be adults and must not have reached the age of forty.
- The use of fresh donor sperm is prohibited.
- The use of more than one donor during the same treatment cycle is prohibited.
- Three options are available: full anonymity, full disclosure, or partial disclosure, where the child on reaching adulthood can obtain the personal details of the donor of the genetic material.
Particular attention has been paid to the clinical and laboratory testing of samples, to their transport, to traceability and to the donor's identity.
In addition, a register of donors from Greece and abroad has been created and is in operation, in which all donors are recorded, so that each donor's participation in donation programmes at every IVF centre in Greece can now be checked. This ensures that the number of children per donor set by law is not exceeded.
Clinical and laboratory screening
To ensure the best possible semen quality and to minimize the risk of serious diseases being inherited, donors have to meet specific criteria. The mandatory tests include those for sexually transmitted diseases — specifically human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C and syphilis — as well as a series of tests for genetic diseases (screening for alpha, beta and delta-beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease, screening for cystic fibrosis and standard chromosome testing).
We work with reliable, certified banks in Greece and abroad, which also carry out a series of additional tests. These include, among others, tests for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomonas.
Transport and traceability
Donor sperm samples move freely between European Union countries. The movement of genetic material to or from a third country outside the European Union is permitted only with the authorization of the National Authority for Assisted Reproduction, and once it has been confirmed that the sperm bank has adequate mechanisms for quality control and certification and complies with safety standards.
Finally, the law requires donor traceability when genetic material is moved, making it mandatory for assisted reproduction units and cryopreservation banks to keep records containing the necessary information.
The donor's identity
Following a change in the law in 2022, sperm donors can choose whether their identity is anonymous or disclosed, or whether they wish it to be possible for it to be disclosed to the child once they reach adulthood, should the child request it. If a donor chooses to remain anonymous, the medical information relating to him is kept in a confidential file with no indication of his identity. Access to that file is permitted only to the child, and only for reasons relating to their health.
Choosing donor sperm
An anonymous or identifiable sperm donor is chosen by the person receiving treatment and, in the case of marriage, a civil partnership or cohabitation, by both partners. The identity of the child, and of its parents, is not disclosed to donors. We work with sperm banks that comply with the law and follow a rigorous selection process, thereby ensuring the quality of the cryopreserved sample.
The couple's choice of donor is based on a series of phenotypic characteristics, such as ethnicity, complexion, eye colour, hair colour, height and blood group. Note that some banks offer the option, for a fee, of obtaining further information about the donor, such as family background, education, interests and additional physical characteristics.