The consent form will ask you what you want to happen in the event that you pass away. For most people, this is a difficult scenario to think about. The information below may cause distress so we encourage you to go at the pace you need or skip this section altogether.

  • If you have a partner, you may want to include him or her in your decision-making process.
  • Take your time in making these decisions, but also know that your decisions can be changed at any time. If you do change your mind, you can always contact the fertility clinic. The clinic may require you to fill out the consent form again.
    • To help prepare yourself and reduce the chances of being surprised, check out this list of questions often included on the consent form:
      • What happens to the sperm if you are unable to make decisions for yourself or pass away?
      • You will be asked if you agree that your partner uses the sperm without your consent and if so, whether you would like to be named as the father.
        • For some men, having a child means passing on their family legacy. This is important to them even if they won’t be present in their child’s life. If you feel that you want to pass on your family name or your genes, make it known to your partner that you would like your sperm to be used even in case of your death. Your partner will need to know this and be comfortable with it.
        • Things to consider:
          • Your partner may feel uncomfortable raising a child without you.
          • Alternatively, your partner may want the opportunity to raise a child in your memory.
          • It is ultimately your choice to provide consent for your partner to use your sperm. However, your consent does not mean that your partner will necessarily use your sperm. It just gives your partner the option to use it.
      • For some men, fatherhood is about being in the child’s life and watching that child grow into an adult. It’s important to think about how you feel before you provide consent for your partner to use your sperm after your death.
        • Your partner may want to raise a child in your memory but you should do what feels best for you.
        • Having a discussion with your partner about why you don’t feel comfortable with your sperm being used, in case of your death, may help clarify why raising a child in your memory is not what you want.
      • You may want to allow a certain person to be able to make decisions regarding the sperm if you are no longer able to. Make sure that you’ve talked to this person and name him or her in the consent form.
  • It is also possible to donate your sperm to be used in research.
    • What does it mean that my sperm will be used in research?
      • If you don’t end up using your sperm for any reason, you can consent to donate your sperm to science. This means that the sperm can be used by the clinic for its own research or be given to scientific labs for research.
        • At the time of consent, you most likely will not be able to know what type of research your sperm will be used in. It is also unlikely that you will be able to specify that your sperm can only be used for a certain type of research.
        • If you’re uncomfortable having your sperm used in a particular type of research because of religious or other reasons, you may not want to choose this option.
        • You can always change your mind. You’ll just need to contact the clinic where your sperm is stored.
      • You may want to get legal advice or psychological counseling. Some cancer centres provide this type of support, or you may want to look for these services on your own.