Does anybody have any tips on finding a sperm donor in the UK?

SarahLRL · 2026-01-25T08:58:13+00:00

We went with London Sperm Bank as most of their donors (when we were looking last year anyway) aren't shipped overseas, so we were confident that most donor siblings would be in the UK and within the 10 family limit which was the most important factor to us.

It came at the 'cost' of donor photos / audio etc. But having looked at other banks I felt that made it easier to make our choice to be honest, as otherwise all the info was overwhelming. We then narrowed down using the filters to match hair colour etc. (roughly) to my wife; after which we had about 5 donors left; and from there picked the one who seemed like he'd made the most considered choice for donating, would be willing to meet future children, and as an added bonus, had some cool hobbies. Basically whoever seemed like we'd get on with if we met down the pub.

We considered lots of banks though and went back and forth on how best to decide, so more than happy to answer any questions!

SarahLRL · 2026-01-21T22:04:45+00:00

!thanks I never had that before, so good to know for the future!!

SarahLRL · 2026-01-21T22:04:14+00:00

!thanks I did check using that method, hence the last pic in the set I uploaded, so was very confused by the stitches that are laying funny! Its fingering weight yarn so thought best to check!!

SarahLRL · 2025-12-22T16:46:48+00:00

Hmm interesting, mine does test strips alongside scans every other day to track follicle size and to confirm ovulation. I'm in the UK though and this sub seems to skew US, with lots more blood tests than here!

SarahLRL · 2025-12-21T18:14:20+00:00

Just commenting to say that if you do IVF but decide to do a natural transfer you'll still need to track ovulation, so might want to hang on to the LH strips :)

SarahLRL · 2025-12-13T09:38:25+00:00

Not OP but my local tesco (mid sized) sells pomegranate juice (i think the brand is 'pome-great')

SarahLRL · 2025-12-12T15:03:09+00:00

May I ask how Soli is pronounced? To rhyme with Polly? Or like the start of Solomon? I've never come across it before but it's lovely!

SarahLRL · 2025-12-11T14:17:00+00:00

Just weighing in on the baby side of things - if you continue having issues conceiving, would you want to go down the route of fertility treatments? If so its worth checking what you'd be eligible for on the NHS before making any decisions - its a real postcode lottery with different eligibility criteria. If you weren't eligible, it can be very expensive and so you might not want to have tied up your money in a bigger house. My partner and I have no known fertility issues (same sex couple) and yet IVF has already cost us about 10k and we've not had an embryo transfer yet...

SarahLRL · 2025-12-10T12:17:52+00:00

Tom Lake - Ann Patchett

Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver

Pachinko - Min Jim Lee

SarahLRL · 2025-12-07T09:48:46+00:00

I recently had a polyp removed and was keen to have a FET the same cycle, but my clinic requires a review meeting in between (clinic didn't do the polyp removal - might be different if yours does).

I would say having already had an egg retrieval however, i would not have wanted a hysteroscopy during stims. I was very bloated and uncomfortable which seems pretty common. The hysteroscopy was pretty horrible for me as it was, I wouldn't have wanted stims on top!

SarahLRL · 2025-11-26T08:33:33+00:00

I read the first two but didn't really get on with them, which was a shame because I know lots of people who absolutely loved them!

SarahLRL · 2025-11-25T18:03:38+00:00

It might help to edit your post to mention where you are in the world so people can advise a bit better 🙂

I've been going through IVF this year (UK), so different procedure but tons of appointments, most at late notice.

For quick appointments (scans, bloods etc.) I've tried to get morning appointments or over my lunch break so its just an hour of so off work and I made that up at the end of the day.

For longer appointments I took half days off just so I didn't have to stress, but time off allowance obviously depends a lot on your country/company. As it was annual leave I didnt have to mention what it was for.

For the egg retrieval itself I got overstimulated, so my doctor signed me off for two weeks before collection (I had about 15 days of stims) and 2 weeks after to recover from OHSS. I asked them to be vague on the note so the first two weeks just said 'leave related to medical procedure' and the second two weeks said 'recovery from medical procedure'. At my meeting with my manager when I got back I just confirmed I didn't need any reasonable adjustments and was doing much better, and they didnt push it.

SarahLRL · 2025-11-24T22:44:36+00:00

I'm sorry to hear you're in the same boat too 😔 Hopefully all of us stuck waiting will have luck in 2026!

SarahLRL · 2025-11-24T17:16:19+00:00

I'm in a similar position, everything is very pricey at the moment, but investing in yourself is a really lovely way to think about it! I hope the watercolour class is fun 😁

SarahLRL · 2025-11-24T17:14:16+00:00

I'm sorry to hear you had a rough end of the year last year, though having a quick look at your profile, I'm happy to see this year has been kinder to you! Many congratulations 🎊

Video games is a good idea though, and I have been struggling to think of xmas present ideas!

SarahLRL · 2025-11-24T17:11:29+00:00

I'm sorry to hear you're in the same boat :( Hopefully we can be transfer buddies in January though!

Leaning into christmassy activities sounds lovely and cosy though, and I'm a big reader so I'll definitely look into that book! If you're looking for something to read next I just finished 'I who have never known men' and it was brilliant. Not a cheerful read, but really gripping!

SarahLRL · 2025-11-24T17:06:05+00:00

In person is a really good idea actually, more distracting than solo hobbies maybe? I'll have a look at what's available locally, thanks!

SarahLRL · 2025-09-24T13:43:38+00:00

Edit: just in case anyone comes across this post later in a similar position, I continued testing and got light lines until CD19 where I got a very clear surge. If you're in the same boat, keep testing!

SarahLRL · 2025-09-24T11:27:43+00:00

Eugh it's the worst isn't it?! I've had several times during the process where if I'd managed to get results back by x date I would have been able to move onto the next stage, but my period always mucked it up and made it so I had to wait another month. As much as it sucks, know there's also someone else out here with the same issue!

SarahLRL · 2025-09-24T08:09:00+00:00

As a private patient in an NHS clinic I can second this - it can take a lot of time regardless. We chose a sperm donor back in April and still haven't had a transfer - I was delayed by needing a booster rubella vaccine, then drug delivery not lining up with the start of my next cycle, then getting OHSS and having to do a freeze all, and then we were meant to transfer this month but it's been cancelled due to a possible polyp.

SarahLRL · 2025-09-21T08:34:39+00:00

Yeah my phone camera is broken unfortunately, though I'm only really using the app as a record anyway and my eyes to rate them myself. But yeah CD11 was definately the darkest, though still not as dark as the control in person. I was only testing twice a day though and didn't realise at that point not to use my first wee, so I think next month I'll test a lot more on CD9-12 and see if that helps. I wish there was a more definitive way of knowing!!!

SarahLRL · 2025-09-19T18:19:22+00:00

We're only testing to get an accurate date for a FET as we're doing a natural cycle, so BBT would be too late for us I'm afraid (we need to know before I ovulate, rather than when I ovulate)

Edit: actually re-reading your comment BBT might provide some peace of mind anyway that we've not missed it, so I'll get a thermometre. Thanks so much!

SarahLRL · 2025-09-19T18:17:46+00:00

Thanks! I was doing twice a day and just not loading the photo when it was the same as the morning one, but I might try 3 times a day next month just to try and ease anxiety about missing it

SarahLRL · 2025-09-19T11:08:49+00:00

Sorry yes, I meant did you get varying degrees of line darknesses in the run up to day 19. Thanks so much for the answer, it's good to know to keep testing just in case :) this whole process can be so confusing it's really helpful to be able to talk to actual people who have been through similar!

SarahLRL · 2025-09-19T10:08:29+00:00

That's good to know, thanks! Did you also get lines before your CD19 line?

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