Which sperm donor category is best for you?

Before starting treatment, it is a good idea to consider what sperm donor category you prefer.  Is important for you that the donor is either open or closed. No sperm donor category that is more correct than the other. It is an individual choice that you must be happy with and feel fits your needs and situation.

We know that it is an important choice for life that you are going to make. Therefore. we want to support you in the process in the best way possible. We would like to present the two donor categories to you here. In that way, you have the best conditions for making a well-considered decision.

Regardless of which category you decide on, you must not forget that the donor will always only be a donor. The donor will never be considered a father for the child.

We recommend you read about the two donor categories.

Whatever donor category you choose, we can guarantee you that you will be happy with the result! So far, we have never received any “complaints” about the thousands of fantastic children we have helped to create.

Happy reading!

/ Line, Fertility Coordinator at Diers Klinik

Sperm donors from Diers Selected

At Diers Fertility Clinic, we offer treatment with our own donors from Diers Selected at fair prices – and all of them are open (ID-release) donors.

This means that when your child reaches adulthood, they will have the option to receive identifying information about the donor if they wish. With modern DNA testing true anonymity is no longer realistic option. We want to be open about that, and for that reason all our donors are ID-release.

If you would prefer treatment with a closed (anonymous) donor, we are still happy to help: we can suggest suitable sperm banks that offer closed donors, and you are very welcome to use a donor from another sperm bank for your treatment at our clinic.

No ID-Release

If you decide to use a No ID-Release donor, this means that the identity of the donor will remain anonymous to the child. It will therefore never be possible for the child to know who the donor is.

However, this does not mean that you cannot get any information about the donor. On the sperm bank’s website you can read a short profile of the donor. In addition to basic information such as height, weight, hair colour, eye colour and education/job, there will sometimes be a staff impression text available, written by the sperm bank’s employees. 

Donors in this category are also asked if they want to attach a child photo to their profile. With the donors who have agreed to this, you will often be able to see up to 3 child photos of the donor. If no child photos appear on the website, the donor has said no to this.

In terms of price, “No ID-release” donors are sometimes cheaper than “ID-release/Open” donors.

We know that many have considerations about whether they are making too limited a choice on behalf of the child if they choose a No ID-Release donor. The most important thing is that you must choose the donor you are most comfortable with.

We recommend you read Liza’s story about the choice of donor from a parent’s perspective.

No ID release, max. 25 or max. 75

The specification, typically, max. 25 or max. 75 shows the number of family formations worldwide that the sperm bank has set for the donor in question. This will appear on the sperm bank’s website under the individual donor profiles.

For donors in the category “No ID-release, max. 25″, the sperm bank has set a max. limit of 25 families worldwide, and the “No ID-release, max. 75″ donors have a max. limit of 75 families worldwide.

For donors in the No ID-release category, max. 25 there will often be an extended profile with more detailed information about the donor.

ID-Release/Open

All Diers Selected donors are ID-release donor. Some sperm banks also use the expression “ID-release” donors, while others use the term “Open” donor. Although the name is different, it is roughly the same terms that apply.

“ID-release”/”Open” donors have agreed in advance that the sperm bank can disclose their identity to the donor child when the child is reaches adulthood, typically 18 years old.

When the child turns that age, they will be able to contact the sperm bank. The sperm bank will subsequently release contact information or identifying information on the donor to the child.

The child will then be able to contact the donor and request a meeting or other form of contact with the donor. Here the child will be able to ask the donor questions. However, the sperm banks do not guarantee that the donors agree to meet or have contact with the child.

Even if the donor agrees to meet with the child, the child must have no expectation that a relationship or regular contact with the donor will develop. It is important to remember that the donors in this category have agreed to be an open donor more than 18 years ago. Of course, a lot has happened in the donor’s life since then.

Only the child can request contact with the donor. The donor will not be able to contact the child. You, as a parent/parents, will not have the opportunity to be informed of the donor’s identity either.

In terms of price, the “ID-release”/”Open” donors are often more expensive than the “No ID-release” donors.

For the Diers Selected donors, it will be possible for you as future parents to download an extended profile with a lot of information about the donor before you choose. The donors have filled in a long questionnaire with information about themselves and their family, and there will be photos of the donor as a child. In addition, some donors have written a handwritten letter, and our team has written a description of the impression the donor leaves on them. That way, you can get an idea of ​​what the donor is like as a person and what he looks like.

Number of family formations worldwide for “ID-Release” and “Open” donors

Most sperm banks set a limit on how many families a single sperm donor can help worldwide. On top of that, many countries also have a legal cap in place.

Globally, the maximum number of families per donor usually falls somewhere between 5 and 75. You’ll typically see this stated clearly on the donor’s profile on the website – for example “Max. 5” or “Max. 75”.

Donors with a low worldwide maximum are usually more expensive than donors with a high worldwide maximum, as their genetic material is available to fewer families.

At Diers Selected, the donor is involved in the decision and chooses how many families he wishes to help worldwide. This gives donors more control and helps create a framework that feels respectful for everyone involved.

Still in doubt?

If you have any questions or need further guidance on the choice of donor category, feel free to contact us. We are always happy to help.