This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
On September 9, 2019, sperm donation was a topic of interest in Kenya, with many individuals and couples seeking to conceive through IVF.
Sperm donation is a process where a healthy, young man donates his sperm to help individuals or couples conceive through IVF.
Dr. Khandwala Shounak, IVF director at Mediheal Group of Hospitals, explains that sperm donation involves a healthy, young man voluntarily donating his sperm for the infertility clinic or sperm bank by natural ejaculation.
According to Dr. Shounak, any healthy male individual who is married or not and who has normal monogram with no significant family or genetic history, can donate sperms.
He adds that most donors are in the age group of 24-45 years.
A semen analysis, also known as a seminogram, is done to evaluate male fertility for those seeking pregnancy or verify the success of vasectomy.
Dr. Shounak says a man can donate as many times as possible, but to prevent genetic pooling, maybe eight to 10 times in one's lifetime, in different laboratories or sperm banks.
Those looking for donors can ask for specific physical features, qualifications, and medical history.
The doctor says those who are looking for donors pay anywhere between Sh15,000 to Sh100,000 for the sperms.
Currently, there is no law in Kenya that regulates assisted reproduction, which has been happening without clear-cut guidelines and rules.
However, a bill is pending in Parliament to address issues surrounding sperm and ova donation to childless couples.
