FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions about Sperm Donation

There are many questions about the sperm donation process. Here are some of our most frequently asked questions.

Take me to:

Troubleshooting
Popular Questions
Membership
Home Insemination
Artificial Insemination
Donating Sperm
Co-Parenting
Fertility Law
Health
Safety
Payments

Troubleshooting

1) I've paid to upgrade so why won't it let me access my premium member services?

If you have upgraded from a standard member to a premium member then please ensure you log out and log back in again after your upgrade to ensure the system has updated your membership status. You should then be able to access your premium member services straight away. You do NOT need to pay again. Please contact us if you have any problems.

2) I have just registered so why have I not received an activation email?

If you have just registered with Co-ParentMatch.com you will be sent an activation email straight away. You need to open this email and click on the link to confirm your membership. If this email does not arrive in your inbox please check your spam mail.

If you do not receive an activation email at all it is very likely that you have misspelt your email address. In this instance please re-register or contact us.

3) How do I upload photographs to my profile?

To add photos go to profile and click ‘Uploads Photos’ (located in the right side menu).

Here you can add photos and edit or delete your current photo. If you have more than 1 photo choose the one you would like to make your primary photo.

If you are still having difficulty please email us your photos and we can upload them for you.

4) How can I change my location?

To update your location go to ‘Profile’, then ‘Account Settings’ (right side menu) and there is an option to add Country/Region/State/City/Postcode.

5) How can I change my age?

To edit your age go to ‘Profile’, then ‘Account Settings’ (right side menu) and there is an option to amend your D.O.B

Reasons why your changes may not save

If your information on the 'Account Settings' page such as Date of Birth will not save it is likely to be due to your web browser pre-filling the password field (located just underneath your Birthdate settings). When you try to save your details you may get a message saying "Please fill in all password fields or leave them blank!" Just clear your password field and click 'Save'.

6) How do I use the Matching Service?

Simply complete a 'Custom Search' and we will email you with your Latest Matches as they join (updates sent weekly, bi-weekly or monthly). You need to ensure you have fully completed your profile first for the matching feature to work.

Example: I am searching for a Single Heterosexual Man, 50 miles from London (New York or Sydney etc...) who is Looking to Become a Donor.

Click ‘Search’ Click ‘Custom Search’ (Right Side Menu)
Enter Distance from you in miles - Enter 50 miles
Tick the Single Heterosexual Man box in ‘What you are looking for’
Tick the 'Become a Donor' box on ‘Who is Looking to’
You can then complete the rest of the fields if they are important to you e.g. Joined as a Single/Couple, Ethnic Origin, Religion, Smoker etc.. or you can leave them blank.
Save Search – Enter the name you wish to Save this Search as (and tick the Save this Search tick box) E.G. “Single Man 50 miles”
A box will then appear that says email me the latest matches Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly. Select your chosen option and Tick the tick box.
Click ‘SEARCH’. Your Search Results will appear.
You will also see that a brand new menu box has now appeared on the right hand side of your screen with the name of your chosen search e.g. Single Heterosexual Men 50 miles (x) . You can click the (x) at any time to delete this saved search.
These search results will now automatically update every time a new member who matches your criteria joins Co-ParentMatch.com
You can repeat steps 1-10 for another Named Save Search.

Membership

How does the membership work?

It's totally free to add a profile, search for members and use the matching service. At the point where you find someone you would like to correspond with you can upgrade your membership. Only premium members can send messages and read received messages. You can cancel your subscription at any time so if you only wish to make one payment you are in full control. If you don't find a match there is no fee to pay.

There are 4 payment options to upgrade to a premium member (all protected through paypal): weekly, monthly, 3 monthly or 6 monthly. With all of these options as soon as you have subscribed you can log in to your paypal account and cancel your subscription meaning no further payments will be taken. E.G. if you subscribe to a monthly package today you can log in to your paypal account tomorrow and cancel the subscription so no more payments will be taken - you can then still enjoy the months premium membership you have paid for. When that 1 month expires you can choose again to upgrade if you wish.

What do I get for joining Co-ParentMatch.com?

Fantastic Membership Rates: Lowest Fees of Any Co-Parent / Sperm Donor Matching Website. Flexible Monthly, 3 monthly and 6 monthly membership rates are available from just £6/$9 - the longer the membership package you purchase - the more you save.

With premium membership you can send & receive unlimited messages to the largest selection of sperm donors and co-parents available on the internet.

No Contract & Protected Payments: With our flexible payment scheme you can start and stop your subscription at any time by simply logging into your PayPal account. You control your money which is protected by PayPal and there is no contract!

Matching Service: Don’t waste time scrolling through thousands of members – we will do the hard work for you! Take advantage of our matching service and we will help you find your perfect parenting partner.

Live Chat: Get to know your potential match better or share your experiences with other members in our live chat area. Favourite Members: Bookmark your favourite members for easy access each time you log in.

Block Members: Stop any unwanted correspondence from members by using our ‘block this member’ function.

Stop Your Payments at Any Time: You are in full control of your payments and can stop your subscription any time of the day or night. Is there a cost to the membership? It's totally free to add a profile, search for members and use the matching service. At the point where you find someone you would like to correspond with you can upgrade from just £6/$9 per month.

How do I end my membership?

To cancel your own subscription or recurring payment:

Log in to your PayPal account.
Click Profile near the top of the page.
Select My money.
In the 'My pre-approved payments' section, click Update.
Select the merchant whose agreement you want to cancel and click Cancel.
Click Cancel Profile to confirm your request.

How do I delete my profile?

If you wish to temporarily de-activate your profile you may do this at any time.

1. Log in to Co-ParentMatch.com

2. Select 'Profile'

3. Select 'Account Settings' - at the bottom of this page there is an option to 'Delete Profile' please select this option. To permanently delete your profile please contact us.

Home Insemination

What is home insemination?

Home insemination is use of simple sterilised equipment to help you get pregnant at home using donor sperm. For a full guide to home insemination click here.

1) What are my options for donor insemination?

There are several ways in which donor insemination can take place ranging from Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI), Intra VitroFertilization (IVF), home insemination and sexual intercourse - depending on the process you choose fertility treatments should always be carried out within a licensed fertility clinic.

The most important advice that should be considered first in donor insemination is that appropriate health screening tests have been carried out to establish that the co-parent /donor is in good health before undertaking this process. IUI and IVF will require a referral from your GP and a considerable health testing process for the donor and recipient.

If you decide to take the private route we recommend you ensure your donor provides you with authentic proof of identification and up-to-date health screening results including STI’s and genetic testing such as chromosome analysis, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.

Tests can also be carried out through your GP that will look at family health history such as diabetes, high cholesterol and history of depression. If your donor refuses to provide you with such documents we recommend you do not pursue your agreement with this individual.

Genuine donors should carry out all relevant health screening so be sure not to put yourself at risk. Specific step by step advice is available for home insemination in our Help & Guides section however we strongly recommend any insemination is carried out using a licensed fertility clinic.

Where can I buy home insemination kits?

You can buy great value home insemination kits in the Co-ParentMatch.com Shop.

How much does home insemination cost?

Apart from the minimal cost of purchasing your artificial insemination equipment, home insemination is free.

What are the success rates of home insemination?

Home insemination is the most popular method of insemination for Co-ParentMatch.com members due to the high success rates. Many members have reported first time pregnancies and others within the first 3 months of trying. Make sure you pinpoint your ovulation dates and ensure your donor has been tested to prove he is both disease free and has a good level of healthy sperm and you stand an excellent chance of becoming pregnant fast.

What are the risks of home insemination?

Follow this guidance to minimise risks associated with home insemination.

1) Insist on health test results including STI’s and genetic conditions

2) Insist on fertility tests such as sperm count, motility and morphology.

3) ID Check – is your donor who he says he is?

4) Always tell a friend where you will be and who you are meeting

5) Don’t attempt to use any equipment such as catheters attached to the syringe.

6) Report any members who pressure you for NI.

Artificial Insemination

What is artificial insemination?

Artificial Insemination refers to fertility procedures carried out in clinics such as IUI and IVF. Artificial Insemination can also be carried out at home using a home insemination kit.

Where can I buy artificial insemination kits?

You can buy great value home insemination kits in the Co-ParentMatch.com Shop.

How much does artificial insemination cost?

IUI can starts from around £800/$1200, IVF starts from around £3,000/$4,500, A Home Insemination Kit can be purchased for £1.89/$2.88. These costs do not include if you are purchasing sperm from a sperm bank and also do not including any associated drugs needed for some AI procedures.

What are the success rates of artificial insemination?

IUI success rates range from around 3%-10%, IVF success rates range from 10%-30%. There is no official data for home insemination success rates however based on the Co-ParentMatch.com members who have conceived via this method since 2007 we would estimate a minimum of a 60% success rate.

What are the risks of artificial insemination?

The risks of artificial insemination depend on which procedure you are having and what drugs you are prescribed. Risks include ovarian hyper stimulation, multiple births and ectopic pregnancy.

Donating Sperm

How do I become a sperm donor?

There are lots of women desperately searching for a sperm donor on Co-ParentMatch.com. Please register for free and search women who are looking for your help. There are lot's of helpful facts and information on Co-ParentMatch.com about becoming a sperm donor.

Will I get paid for donating sperm?

It is illegal to charge for sperm donation outside of a sperm bank or fertility clinic. You can however ask your recipient to provide you with reasonable expenses to cover factors such as travel.

What tests do I need to become a sperm donor?

You can view the sperm donor screening process here.

Donors on Co-ParentMatch.com are responsible for their own health and fertility screening. You should not donate sperm if you have not had a health test conducted. You should also ensure you have your sperm analysed to make sure you have a good sperm count.

What are my legal rights as a sperm donor?

You can view our legal facts for sperm donor section here.

Looking for a Sperm Donor

Where can I find a sperm donor?

We have lot's of sperm donors registered who are looking to help women become pregnant. You can register with us at any time. Once registered you can then add a profile and start searching for a match in your area. When you find a match you can then arrange individually with your match when you would like him to donate. You can choose if you would like artificial insemination at a clinic or home insemination. You will be responsible for a arranging a meeting with your match and ensuring your donor provides you with up-to-date health checks.

Should I pay my sperm donor?

No, it is illegal to charge for sperm donation outside of a sperm bank or fertility clinic. You can however ask your provide your donor with reasonable expenses to cover factors such as travel.

Will I meet my sperm donor?

Yes, you will meet your donor face to face. Co-ParentMatch.com is an alternative to sperm banks where women have to choose a donor from a list with the personality traits of the donor based on the views of the sperm bank staff. With Co-ParentMatch.com you get to meet the father of your child and decide first hand if you like his personality, his looks, personal characteristics and traits etc...

Donor Screening

You can view the sperm donor screening process here. Donors on Co-ParentMatch.com are responsible for their own health and fertility screening. You should not donate sperm if you have not had a health test conducted. You should also ensure you have your sperm analysed to make sure you have a good sperm count.

What is the law around using a sperm donor?

You can view our legal facts for sperm donor section here.

Co-Parenting

Where can I find a co-parent?

We have lot's of co-parents registered who are looking for a match to help them become a parent. You can register with us at any time. Once registered you can then add a profile and start searching for a match in your area. When you find a match you can then arrange individually with your match when you would like to arrange donation. You can choose if you would like artificial insemination at a clinic or home insemination. You will be responsible for a arranging a meeting with your match and ensuring your match provides you with up-to-date health checks.

What tests should my co-parent have?

You can view the sperm donor screening process here. Donors on Co-ParentMatch.com are responsible for their own health and fertility screening. You should not allow your donor to donate sperm if you have not had a health test conducted. You should also ensure your donor has his sperm analysed to make sure he has a good sperm count.

What is the law around using a co-parent?

You can view our legal facts for co-parents section here.

Fertility Law

1) What are the Legal Facts for Sperm Donors and Recipients?

Co-ParentMatch.com offers a comprehensive Legal Facts section which we recommend all users read before you begin your search for a match. In summary, if you are thinking of becoming a sperm donor and you wish to conceive outside of a fertility clinic then it is very likely that you will become the child’s legal parent with all of the associated rights and responsibilities that come with this. Legal facts for donors and recipients vary greatly depending on individual circumstance such as whether the recipients are married or civil partnered and where insemination takes place i.e. in a fertility clinic or home insemination. Make sure you read through our Legal Facts section.

2) Do you recommend a legal contract?

We would strongly recommend that you consider drawing up a legal contract before embarking on this quest as it can help in the setting up of decisions that will relate to the child's upbringing.

We would suggest you seek legal representation and/or counselling before you both sign up to any legal contract as there are many legal issues and problems which could arise in such arrangements which you may want to consider. Co-ParentMatch.com recommends that you consider every aspect of your agreement in full and if you are in a position to do so gain some legal advice before embarking on your journey.

Some co-parents and donors sign contracts that cover many issues from the procedure of insemination through to child access. Co-ParentMatch.com also recommends that member's consider undertaking a CRB(Criminal Records Bureau) check on potential co-parent partners/donors.

Health

1) What medical tests should our donor and/or recipient have done?

We strongly recommend that you discuss and undertake rigorous health screening checks with your potential match before entering into an agreement. Testing for general sexual health and HIV can be carried out free at your local Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic or seek advice through your GP on what tests to undertake. We have listed some tests that we would recommend you considerand would also suggest that you undertake professional advice from your local GP / health clinic on additional tests that may be required as part of the screening process:

? HIV Antibody (AIDS test)

? Chlamydia

? Gonorrhoea

? Syphilis

? Hepatitis B

? Hepatitis C

A HIV test may not prove positive until three months after infection therefore following an initial test you may chose to have another test further down the line to identify whether your match has put themselves at risk within this time.

By choosing a licensed clinic the donor will have no legal obligation to the child and will not be named as the legal parent on the birth certificate. Sperm donated outside of a licensed clinic would result in the donor becoming the child’s legal father thus giving them all rights and responsibilities that it would involve. *Variations to this law may occur depending on the marital status of the recipients and the country of donation.

Safety

1) What should I do if my donor suggests natural insemination (N.I.) and I don’t want to?

Co-ParentMatch.com recommends members choose the safest option which is to go through a licensed fertility clinic. If you choose to pursue the private route there are a range of methods available including home/artificial insemination or natural insemination. However these processess carry significant health risks.

We strongly recommend if you choose natural insemination this is a full consenting agreement between both parties and should be carried out somewhere safe. Where possible you should let a friend or relative know your intentions and whereabouts. You should at no time be pressured into having sexual intercourse if you choose not to do so. If you feel the donor is behaving inappropriately please report this to us immediately and we will investigate and take appropriate action.

Ensuring your donor has an enhanced criminal records bureau (CRB) check is a safe way to ensure your donor has no previous history of unlawful behaviour.

At Co-ParentMatch.com we do our utmost to ensure that only genuine users access this website by issuing a membership fee and closely monitoring the site, we therefore ask that members be sure to only correspond with Premium members via the internal messaging system.

Co-ParentMatch.com are not responsible for the actions of two consenting adults outside of the remit of this website.

2) What should I do if my donor requests payment for sperm?

It is illegal in the UK to sell sperm however donors are allowed to request reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the donation process, for example travel costs.

Please ensure that any financial agreements in relation to associated expenses are jointly agreed prior to donation. We strongly recommend that recipients do not send money to donors before donation occurs in order to ensure that no fraudulent or scamming activity takes place. Any recipients approached in this manner should report this immediately to Co-ParentMatch.com. For more information on donating sperm please visit the National Gamete Donation Trust at http://www.ngdt.co.uk.

Payments

Co-ParentMatch.com Worldwide Prices

	UK £	USA $	AUS $	CAN $	Euros
1 Week	9.99	14.99	18.99	17.99	12.99
1 Month	14.99	21.99	27.99	27.99	18.99
3 Months	38.99	56.99	72.99	70.99	49.99
6 Months	59.99	86.99	111.99	109.99	76.99

On your billing page where you subscribe you will see a statement that explains our membership prices are based in UK sterling and all other currencies are converted by paypal with the current conversion rate for that day. This rate changes slightly daily and we are unable to control it.

1) How do I stop my subscription or delete my account?

Using PayPal gives you maximum control over your account so please remember it is the member’s responsibility to cancel their own subscription to prevent any further payments being taken.

To cancel your own subscription or recurring payment:

1. Log in to your PayPal account.
2. Click Profile at the top of the page.
3. Click My Money then click Update beside My preapproved payments to find your payment.
4. Select the payment (Pinewoods Enterprises Ltd), and then click Cancel.

A subscription can be cancelled up until the day before the next scheduled payment in order for you not to be charged.

2) How do I delete my profile?

If you wish to temporarily de-activate your profile you may do this at any time.

Log in to Co-ParentMatch.com
Select 'Profile'
Select 'Account Settings' - at the bottom of this page there is an option to 'Delete Profile' please select this option.

To permanently delete your profile please contact us.

Please email us and let us know if you have found a match. We love to hear your success stories.

3) How do the payments work?

You may register and search profiles free of charge however if you wish to send or read a received message you must subscribe. Subscription is via PayPal one of the fastest and most secure ways to pay. PayPal allows you to control your payments meaning you can start and stop the subscription at any time by logging into your PayPal account.

Monthly, 3 monthly and 6 monthly memberships are available - both rates to be converted for your country of residence (based on PayPal currency conversion rates). Upon subscription you will be able to message other users and read your received messages.

4) How can I pay for my membership?

We only use PayPal for our subscriptions as it is automatically linked into membership status and gives our members maximum control and security over their payments i.e. you can stop your subscription at any time by logging into your PayPal account. PayPal accepts credit and debit cards from all countries.

PayPal accepts the following cards:

a.. Visa / Delta / Electron
b.. MasterCard / Eurocard
c.. PayPal Top Up Card
d.. Maestro
e.. Solo
f.. American Express
Debit cards (also known as bank cards) areaccepted if they have a Visa or MasterCard logo.

The following payment methods are available when sending money:,

a.. PayPal Balance
b.. Instant Bank Transfer
c.. eCheque (takes seven to nine business days)
d.. Credit or debit card

Payments using PayPal balance, credit or debitcards and Instant Bank Transfer methods will be credited to the recipient instantly. eCheques will take seven to nine business days to clear.

Which payment method will be used for my purchase?

1.. When you make a payment, any funds in your PayPal balance are used first
2.. If you have no PayPal balance, or not enough to cover the whole transaction, the remainder will be taken from your bank account
3.. If you don't have a bank account registered with PayPal, your credit card or debit card will be charged instead

5) Do sperm donors have to pay a membership fee?

Yes. We have found in the past that if we do not charge sperm donors it opens the floodgates for lots of abusive and unwanted correspondence. We understand that this impacts on our genuine donors however we have found that overall, this format works best for our members.

Co-ParentMatch.com offers members the opportunity to search for profiles free of charge and post a profile for no cost.

At the point where you find a member(s) you wish to correspond with you will need to upgrade in order to send and receive messages.

Sign up now and begin your search

Join for free