When people think of donors, egg donors often get the spotlight. Their journey is more invasive, more medicalised, and rightly seen as a huge act of generosity. But sperm donors? Too often they’re reduced to jokes, stereotypes, or worse — overlooked entirely.

Yet sperm donors are absolutely vital to thousands of families around the world. And they deserve appreciation, respect, and humanity. I learned this early on in my career — in a way that still makes me laugh to this day.

The Night of the “Sperm Donor Party”

I’ll never forget the first time I hosted what we jokingly called a “sperm donor party.” It was in a pub on Harley Street, back when I was just starting out. Picture this: I’m 5ft 2, walking into a pub armed with nothing but a card, and suddenly surrounded by hundreds of men from every walk of life who had come along because they’d donated.

We’d asked the pub to give us a private space — but all they did was rope off the top floor. So, there we were: one small woman and a sea of men laughing, chatting, and connecting while the rest of the pub looked on, wide-eyed.

Some people gave amused grins. Others looked horrified. More than once I caught the “what on earth is going on up there?” stares. And to make it even funnier? I’d promised to cover food and drinks. Which meant every so often I had to shuffle to the bar, hand over my card, and pay for round after round… making the whole scene look even stranger.

It was hilarious, slightly awkward — and one of the best things we ever did.

Breaking Down Barriers

That night wasn’t about drinks in a pub. It was about donors connecting with each other. Men who often felt isolated in their decision to donate suddenly realised: I’m not the only one. They swapped stories, built friendships, and left knowing they weren’t just “a sample number” — they were people who mattered.

For me, it was also about appreciation. Sperm donors don’t often get the same recognition as egg donors. People think their role is “easy” because the method of donation is simpler. But without them, countless families would never exist.

That party helped break down stigma and shame. It showed donors they were valued, that their contribution was essential, and that they were part of something bigger than themselves.

Why This Still Matters Today

Fast forward to now, and the landscape of sperm donation has changed. We have new technology, online matching platforms, and global donor banks. But one thing hasn’t changed: the need for donors to feel valued and understood.

At Find My Donor, we’ve built our platform with that human side in mind. Whether it’s through our DIY matching, our private donor bank, or our personalised MatchMe search, the aim is the same: to take the process beyond numbers and profiles, and remind people there are real human beings on both sides of the journey.

Final Thoughts

That night in the pub will always stay with me. Yes, it was funny, awkward, and a little bizarre — but it was also a moment of connection and trust. And it cemented something I’ve believed ever since: sperm donors matter. They deserve more appreciation, more recognition, and more humanity in the way we talk about them.

So next time you think about donor conception, remember this: behind every family, there’s a donor who made it possible. And they deserve to be celebrated.