All about Spanish sperm donors​ – laws, costs & why more of us are travelling for treatment

If you’re starting your search for a sperm donor, Spain might just come up as an option. It’s become an increasingly popular choice for those of us in the UK thanks to its long-standing culture of safe, well-regulated donation, high clinical standards and consistently strong access to Spanish sperm donors. 

It’s also home to some of Europe’s most experienced IVF teams, and one of the standout names here is Clínica Tambre, a leading fertility clinic with more than 47 years of expertise in male infertility, advanced diagnostics and sperm donor treatments in Spain.

With its own long-established sperm bank (the second oldest in Spain) and a strong international reputation, Grupo Tambre is often a first port of call for people comparing donor options abroad – book a first consult here, if you’re keen to tap into their experience. 

Now, to help break everything down clearly, we sat down with Dr. Leonor Ortega, Deputy Director of Laboratory and Senior Embryologist at Clínica Tambre, for a friendly, no-nonsense chat about what the process involves, how donor matching works and why Spain continues to be a top choice.

Over to Dr. Ortega.

First off, what is the availability of Spanish sperm donors like?

A major draw for international patients is how straightforward donor access tends to be. Spain has a strong donation culture, supported by clear national legislation, which keeps waiting times short and the process consistent across clinics.

All donors in Spain undergo thorough medical, genetic, psychological and semen-quality screening. Donor anonymity is protected by law, which helps maintain a healthy donor supply.

So if you’re considering sperm donor Spain pathways, this is a practical advantage, especially when compared with the UK, where donor availability can be more limited.

And speaking of which…

How does Spain’s sperm donor law compare with the UK?

When it comes to Spain sperm donor law, the framework is one of the main reasons Spanish sperm donors are so widely available, and it directly influences waiting times, privacy and how donor programmes work.

Getting a little more granular, here’s a quick comparison.

1. Donor anonymity

Spain: Anonymity is guaranteed by law, except in extremely rare, medically justified circumstances.

UK: Donor anonymity was removed in 2005, meaning donor-conceived adults can request identifying information once they turn 18.

This difference alone has a major impact: anonymity tends to encourage more donors in Spain, which keeps availability high and waiting times short.

2. Number of donor-conceived children

Spain: A maximum of six children can be born from the same donor within the country.

UK: The limit applies to ten families, not the number of children.

Spain’s cap keeps donor usage tightly controlled and helps maintain traceability.

3. Donor compensation

Spain: Donation is altruistic, with only symbolic compensation allowed to cover expenses.

UK: Donors can receive limited remuneration per visit through regulated clinics.

Both systems regulate this carefully, but the Spanish model reinforces the voluntary nature of donation.

4. Donor rights and responsibilities

Spain: Donors have no parental rights or obligations towards donor-conceived children.

UK: The same applies when donation is carried out through a regulated clinic.

5. Use of donated samples

Spain: Samples can only be used in authorised centres, always with anonymity and full traceability.

UK: Similar safeguards apply, but with open-identity rules and a centrally regulated family limit.

Put simply, Spain sperm donor law creates a stable, predictable and efficient framework. Anonymous donation, strict screening requirements and capped donor usage mean that choosing sperm donor treatments in Spain tends to involve shorter waits, clear expectations and strong regulatory protection for you and your future child.

Sperm donor treatments in Spain (and how to choose your pathway)

When looking at sperm donor treatments in Spain, patients usually choose between artificial insemination (IUI) and IVF with donor sperm in Spain.

Artificial insemination with donor (AID)

This is often recommended when ovarian reserve is good, fallopian tubes are open and no other factors complicate conception. 

You might be advised to start here if you’re a single woman or in a same-sex female couple, and your clinical outlook is strong.

IVF with donor sperm

This may be advised when success rates would clearly be higher through IVF. This might be due to age, reduced ovarian reserve, previous unsuccessful attempts or conditions such as endometriosis or tubal blockage. IVF also enables better embryo selection and targeted sperm use.

Tambre’s team bases this choice on a full diagnostic work-up and your wishes and preferences as a patient, rather than just picking the least complex route. Their priority is the approach most likely to work quickly and with the least emotional strain for you.

What can we expect from IVF with donor sperm in Spain?

Clinically, IVF itself works the same way in both countries. But, if IVF is the pathway you end up walking, the experience in Spain is highly structured and reassuringly organised, supported by the advantageous legal set up.

Everything starts with a full diagnostic study – think hormone tests, scans, a medical exam and a review of your history. 

Once that’s complete, your team will map out your plan. At Tambre, this usually includes:

Donor selection

Via an accredited sperm bank. Donors are matched to you based on physical similarity and blood group compatibility.

Behind the scenes, donors have already passed medical, psychological, serological and genetic testing, and all samples complete a mandatory quarantine period.

Stimulation, egg collection and fertilisation

You’ll begin ovarian stimulation, followed by egg collection once follicles reach the right stage. In the lab, your eggs are fertilised using ICSI in most cases, and the embryos are closely monitored.

The best embryos are chosen for transfer, often using cutting-edge AI techniques, and any extras can be vitrified for future use.

How much does IVF with donor sperm in Spain cost?

Spanish clinics usually offer much clearer package pricing compared to other European countries, and treatment costs for IVF with donor sperm tend to be lower overall. 

Add to that the strong donor availability in Spain – which means you’re not dealing with the price hikes that can happen when samples are scarce – and you can often get more value than you would in the UK, where donor shortages are more common.

The bottom line? Savings can be really notable, even once travel is factored in – connect with Tambre’s expert team here for more details on costs.

Inside Clínica Tambre – Donor bank expertise, male fertility testing and personalised care

Clínica Tambre has a particularly strong reputation in male-factor diagnostics. In other words, you’re not limited to a basic semen analysis here.

The team looks at:

• DNA fragmentation
• seminal biochemistry
• motility
• morphology
• when necessary, genetic markers to understand sperm quality in detail.  

This depth of analysis helps the team choose the most effective sperm-selection method for you, whether that’s ZyMot, SpermSlow or Swim-Up. Dip into their fab resource library here, if you’d like to learn more about the specifics.

Tambre’s in-house donor bank is one of its biggest advantages, with all donors going through medical, psychological and genetic testing as per Spanish law. Every sample is frozen, checked for thaw quality and kept in quarantine before being cleared. 

This gives you fast access to fully screened, high-quality donor sperm with full legal confidentiality, if that’s your preference.

A note on choosing the right IVF clinic in Spain

If you’re choosing between an IVF clinic in Madrid or an IVF clinic in Alicante, Grupo Tambre knows that it usually comes down to lifestyle and logistics:

Tambre Madrid

• Located in a calm, central neighbourhood
• Excellent flight connections and hotel options
• Ideal if you prefer the practicalities of a large city

Tambre Alicante

• Coastal setting in the Panoramis complex
• Close to the airport with strong links to UK cities
• Good for a quieter, seaside environment during treatment

Whichever you choose, Tambre’s international team will support you with planning, appointment grouping, medication guidance, airport transfers and local accommodation advice, keeping travel manageable.

Ready to explore your options with Grupo Tambre?

Clínica Tambre is set up for international patients from day one, with dedicated coordinators who speak your language and stay with you throughout your treatment – from that very first video call to the final follow-up.

They’ll help you plan your appointments so you only travel when you need to, combine any tests you can do at home, and keep the whole process as efficient as possible.

And once you’re back home, the team stays in touch by phone and email to adjust medication, check results and keep everything moving without unnecessary trips abroad.

Book a consultation with Clínica Tambre here and start your journey today.

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