Sperm and egg donations

Infertility or serious genetic diseases in one of the parents may mean that they have to use a donor. Single people or same sex female couples can also use donor sperm for their parental plan.

There are different ways you can use a sperm donor to carry out your parental plan:

• Assisted reproduction centres (also called fertility clinics) most often deal with a sperm bank that must comply with strict medical standards.
• Informal sperm donation (also called informal donation or at‑home insemination) can come from a known or unknown donor, without going through an assisted reproduction centre. A known donor is someone the recipient or the future parents know personally. An unknown donor is someone they do not know personally when they begin their search for a sperm donation.

The decisions can have an effect on the safety and well‑being of the future parents, but also on the donor‑conceived child. Some practices may involve risks to the health of the recipient or the donor‑conceived child. Each way of using a donor to carry out a parental plan also raises long‑term questions, particularly about family ties.

In an assisted reproduction centre, it is possible to obtain services that use:

• sperm donation from a bank accredited by Health Canada;
• directed sperm donation from a known donor, that is, someone the recipient knows personally, by carrying out the tests required to ensure the donor sperm is safe.

There are many advantages to using donor sperm in assisted reproduction centres. The most important ones are:

• Support is provided by a qualified health professional.
• Services are provided to people who meet the eligibility criteria. A maximum of $950 per sperm sample from a donor bank is reimbursed by the program.
• Safety standards regulated by Health Canada are met.
• The donor selection process is rigorous: medical examination and medical tests to limit the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted and blood‑borne infections (STBBIs) and certain genetic diseases.
• Sperm quality is assessed to maximize the chances of conceiving.
• Some banks limit the number of families to which the same donor can contribute, thereby limiting the potential number of half‑brothers or half‑sisters. This approach aims to prevent psychosocial consequences for parents and children and reduce the risk of consanguinity. You can find out more during your appointment at your assisted reproduction centre.
• Personal data is protected in accordance with the laws and regulations in force. Donor‑conceived children have, however, the right to know certain information about their origins. For more information, go to the page Right to know one’s origins in assisted procreation involving a third person.

There are limitations to using sperm donation in assisted reproduction centres. The most important ones are:

• You may have to wait to obtain assisted reproduction services.
• Not all regions in Quebec have assisted reproduction centres. So you may have to travel.
• Not all assisted reproduction centres offer donor services. Find out from your assisted reproduction centre.
• A fee may be charged for the purchase of a sperm sample from a donor bank.
• Although the donor undergoes a medical assessment, the accuracy of certain information provided by the donor depends on what the donor knows about their health and on their good faith.

To find out more, you can discuss it with a doctor.

Informal sperm donation takes place between two people outside the services offered in an assisted reproduction centre. Insemination is done by hand at home or in a place determined with the donor.

At‑home insemination means that the donor’s sperm is collected in a container and then inseminated using a needleless syringe.

The donor may be someone the recipient knows personally or an unknown person, selected from volunteers who are most often posted on the web (social media, classified ad sites, web pages, etc.).

Whatever the method of insemination, using donor sperm involves an exchange of fluids: it is the equivalent of unprotected sex. This means that using donor sperm carries a risk of transmission of sexually transmitted and blood‑borne infections (STBBIs).

Informal sperm donation are not protected by Health Canada mechanisms as in an assisted reproduction centre. This means that informal sperm donation carry a risk of STBBIs for the donor, the recipient and the future child.

In the case of at‑home insemination, the recipient and their future child are at risk of an STBBI.

In the case of insemination by sexual intercourse, the donor, the recipient and the future child are at risk of infection.

The health history of the donor and their family may be unknown. The donor may also refuse to disclose their health and STBBI history, not disclose it fully or make false statements.

It all depends on the relationship of trust and communication between donor and recipient. This relationship of trust implies precautions to prevent STBBIs.

You should know that there is no such thing as zero risk. Screening for STBBIs reduces the risk of transmission. Some become detectable several weeks or months after exposure to an infection.

Do not hesitate to ask questions about donors’ and recipients’ sexual health before starting insemination. Communication and transparency about one’s sexual health is essential throughout the donation process.

There are risks associated with starting a family with donor sperm without going through an assisted reproduction centre. Here are the elements to consider when a person is considering at‑home insemination with donor sperm from someone they do not know:

• There is a risk of being given false information by a donor, especially about their health or family history.
• There is no legal framework or administrative follow‑up to limit the number of births to which a donor contributes. It is not always possible to know how many families a donor has already donated to and how many donations will be made in the future.
• When it comes to safety, the risks cannot be predicted. People who use informal donor sperm may expose themselves to people with questionable motives. The process usually involves sharing personal information. Whether online or in person, the risk of harassment is real and requires special precautions. People are also at risk of exposure to sexual violence at the time of or after the donation.
• The impact on the child’s psychological well‑being is uncertain, especially when the donor is an unknown person, who cannot be traced, or who is disreputable. Keep in mind that the donor’s identity and how they were selected are part of the child’s story. The future parent(s) must ensure that this important step can be integrated by the child.

As with all online activities, vigilance is required when looking for an unknown sperm donor. For example:

• On online platforms, choose volunteers who reveal their identity in the conversation thread visible to other members of the group rather than those who introduce themselves only in private messages.
• Take your time when choosing a donor. Meet up with them and get to know them before the day you want to obtain a donation so you will have some time to think freely before the procedure.
• It is best to meet in public places.
• If possible, arrange for your partner or someone close to you to go with you the first time you meet up with an unknown donor.
• Choose what personal data you want to share and when you feel comfortable doing so.
• Write down the expectations and commitments of the people involved in order to promote common understanding and reduce the risk of misunderstandings.
• If you experience violence or harassment, you can report it to the police.

The free, informed and continuous consent of all concerned is essential, whether about the method of insemination, the number of donations or other criteria important to the donor or recipient.

Consent is free when the person consents without coercion or pressure. For example:

• The recipient does not feel obliged to consent to sexual intercourse in order to obtain the donor sperm.
• When you feel uncomfortable or there seems to be pressure, you can say so, for example by saying: “I do not accept proposals for natural insemination or insemination through sexual intercourse”.

Consent is informed when the person has all the information they need to make well‑informed decisions. For example:

• If a donor lies about the number of donations they have made or about their health, the recipient’s consent is not informed.
• When you do not feel comfortable or when information does not seem clear, you can say so, for example, by saying: “I refuse to go any further without more information about the precautions you take for your sexual health.” or “Let’s meet in a public place, please, so we can get to know each other.”

Consent is continuous (or revocable) when the person can maintain their consent over time and validate it again if anything changes. For example:

• If the recipient decides they are no longer comfortable receiving the donation at the donor’s home, they can discuss this with their donor to adjust the agreement.
• When you feel uncomfortable or when you have to adjust to new information, you can say so, for example, by saying: “You told me that you donated to only one family before me, but I learned that you actually donated to at least four families, is that right?” or “I’m no longer comfortable going ahead with it. Please stop writing to me.”

At the slightest sign of discomfort or malaise, stop the process. Consent is paramount, even if it delays the process to the next ovulation cycle. You have to think about your own well‑being and that of the unborn child.

If you are considering using informal donor sperm from a person you select online, watch the video La recherche d’un donneur en ligne (In French only).

If you are considering donating sperm online, there are several things you need to consider. To help you in your reflection, watch the video Le don en ligne (In French only).

Throughout the process of looking for a donor online, you can get support from family and friends or from support groups.

• Discuss your plan with people you trust who will support you. It is recommended that you have someone you trust go with you to the first meetings you have with a donor.
• Consult local resources or organizations that offer psychosocial and sexual health services such as the LGBT+ Family Coalition. Some resources are available in clinics.
• There are online support networks for parents who have used donor sperm, if needed.

Medical support is important throughout the donation process.

• Talk about your experience with your health care provider. You can talk to them about your parental plan without fear of judgment.
• Have medical follow up throughout the at home insemination process. Screening for sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs) is recommended before the first insemination and after each insemination. The health professional will recommend the appropriate tests for your situation.

A donor contract is an agreement between the person who donates their sperm and the person who receives it. The contract sets out the expectations of each of the people concerned: the donor, the recipient and their partners, if applicable. It is strongly recommended to put the contract in writing. The written contract keeps a record of what has been agreed before starting the insemination process. It is possible to consult a notary or a lawyer to obtain legal advice adapted to each situation.

In a donor contract, it is recommended that you include the following information:

• The identity of the donor and the recipient
  Make sure you see and keep a copy of a piece of identification with a photo. The donor must be 18 years of age or older. It is advisable to attach a copy of the I.D. to the donor contract.
• Declaration on the status of third person donor
  Make sure the donor understands their status as a “third person donor of reproductive material” and that they are not a parent in the parental plan. In the Civil Code of Québec, the donor is distinguished from the parent(s) who have a parental plan. Indeed, in the Civil Code of Québec, the donor is referred to as a “third person who provided their reproductive material” or a “third person who contributed to procreation”. They do not have any parental rights or obligations toward the child.
• Insemination method
  Specify how the sperm donation will take place. This can help prevent blackmail or pressure to change your mind at the last minute.
• Number of donations
  Specify the number of donations made to other families at the time the contract is concluded and the number of donations planned for you and other families. The contract may also specify the donor’s commitment to stop at a specific number of donations (for example, that the donor is limited to 10 donations, or that they donate to a single family). For example, the Québec sperm bank limits the contribution of a single donor to 10 families. This bank is accredited by Health Canada.
  It is useful to keep a written record of this commitment to make it easier to report multiple donors, i.e., donors who make many sperm donations or who donate to many families.
• Consentand contact
  The consent of the parties must be free and informed. It is recommended to specify the conditions of contact with the donor, that is, when and how often the donor will be able to have contact with the parent(s), and with the donor‑conceived child, if any.

A written donor contract template is available on the LGBT+ Family Coalition website.

During their childhood and throughout their life, the donor‑conceived child may ask themselves questions and ask for more information about their origins.

The child might ask themselves questions that cause anxiety, especially if they lack information, for example:

• if the donor cannot be traced (first name and surname);
• if the donor’s medical history cannot be traced (for more information, see the Information sheet for parents whose sperm donor made multiple donations);
• if it is not known how many other children are from the same donor, or if it is shown that the donor was a multiple donor, i.e., a donor who has donated many times or to many families.

The child’s questions or distress may be related to the fact of having many half‑sisters, half‑brothers and cousins, or to the risk of accidental consanguinity over generations.

Recipients or parent couples can ask themselves the following questions when choosing the donation method or their donor.

• What do I know about this donor and what should I know for my child’s well being?
• My child will carry this donor’s baggage, including their genetic baggage. If I put myself in my child’s shoes, will they feel considered and comfortable with the donor I have chosen?
• How do I feel about explaining their story and the circumstances surrounding their conception to my child?

Recipients or parent couples can learn about the donor’s initiative, intentions and commitment by asking the following questions.

• How many donations has the donor made or do they plan to make, and to how many families? Am I comfortable with this number?
• Is the donor’s family aware of their donation(s)?
• Does the donor have children? Can we discuss the impact of the donation on all the children concerned?

Parents or parent couples can have a transparent relationship with their children.

Since June 6, 2025, Québec donors can no longer be anonymous. You must send certain information about the donor to the registrar of civil status when you declare the birth of your child. This information will then be entered in the register of origin information.

When you do not go through a fertility clinic, you must send this information yourself, as a parent(s), to the registrar of civil status. So it is very important to identify the donor.

Depending on their age, it is important to inform the child of their origins and the circumstances that led to their conception in order to promote their understanding and a serene relationship with their history.

Depending on their age, a donor‑conceived child may have access to certain information about the donor as part of origin information in assisted procreation involving a third person.

Information on rights and obligations is available in the video Encadrement légal du don de sperme (In French only). Other information is also available on the Éducaloi website.

Various informational and awareness videos related to sperm donation have been developed in collaboration with the University du Québec en Outaouais. These videos address various topics, including how to use sperm donation in Québec and its legal framework. If you are considering using sperm donation at an assisted reproduction center or informal sperm donation, watch these videos to be well informed.

1. Fonder une famille grâce à un don de sperme au Québec (In French only)
2. La recherche d’un donneur de sperme en ligne (In French only)
3. Le don de sperme en ligne (In French only)
4. L’encadrement légal du don de sperme (In French only)

Women who do not ovulate or whose eggs cannot be used may use another woman’s eggs. A woman who needs donor eggs can find a donor they know personally or buy frozen eggs from egg banks.

Egg donation is subject to certain rules. To find out more, you can discuss it with your doctor.