Who becomes a sperm donor: personality characteristics in a national sample of identifiable donors

Abstract

Objective: To study the personality characteristics of identifiable sperm donors in a national sample in comparison with the same characteristics of a control group.

Design: Descriptive study.

Setting: All clinics (n=7) performing gamete donation in Sweden.

Population: All Swedish sperm donors recruited during 2005-08. An age-matched group of Swedish men served as controls.

Methods: Standardised questionnaires were used to measure personality.

Main outcome measures: Demographics and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).

Results: The mean age of the donors was 33.8±7.8 years (18-56 years). About one-third (36.5%) of the donors had biological children of their own. With regard to personality, significant differences were present on harm avoidance, with lower means for sperm donors (P=0.002, 95% CI -3.74 to -0.85), and on self-directedness and cooperativeness, with higher means for donors (P=0.002, 95% CI 0.97-4.19; P=0.001; 95% CI 0.75-2.95, respectively), compared with controls. This indicates that the donors in general feel less worried and suffer less from uncertainty, shyness and fatigability than controls. They also perceive themselves as being autonomous, with a capacity to take responsibility, to behave in a goal-directed manner, to be resourceful and self-acceptant, and to behave in a manner guided by meaningful values and goals. Furthermore, they describe themselves as being well integrated in humanity or society, and having a good capacity for identification with and acceptance of other people.

Conclusions: The screening process at the clinics seems to generate a group of stable, mature and well-integrated donors, and this is a promising result for the future.