I signed up 4 or so years ago. My 3 year old is sleeping beside me! best decision of my life
"I started trying to conceive as a 30 year old single mother by choice. To begin with, I spent eye-watering sums on failed rounds of IVF (3 x full rounds) and IUI at clinics ( 3 x full rounds) using frozen sperm-bank sperm. After spending tens of thousands (literally) and wasting around 2 years trying - I was extremely disillusioned. I'd had one miscarriage, cysts due to over medication and felt utterly desolate.
I decided that I needed a change in tack. Medically, there was nothing wrong with me – I was young with good test results – so I decided that the problem was likely too much medical intervention. I asked in an online single mother by choice forum whether anyone had any recommendations for known donors. At the time, I was living on a tiny remote island – the pool of men was minuscule, and I didn't have anyone in my sphere that I wanted to use.
A member of the online single mother by choice community recommended your site. I actually liked the fact there was a paid element because I hoped it would weed out the less serious donors. I spoke to a few donors but clicked with one person in particular. He'd only just joined, said he'd heard about the concept from a TV show and wanted to help. He's around my age (early 30s) and I was his first donation. Prior to meeting, I paid for him to have a full medical check.
I flew him to where I was living, put him up in a hotel and timed my cycles assiduously using an Ovacue machine. We ended up inseminating 3 times over 3 days using a soft-cup (the 3 days in the build up to ovulation). Miraculously, our low tech method worked – and I gave birth to a healthy boy 9 months later. The donor said he left the site soon after I was pregnant and didn't help anyone else. He said he'd be happy to help again if I want other children.
I'm still in contact with the donor. We message via WhatsApp and Skype and see each other when we can (we live in different countries). He told his parents shortly after my son was born. We've actually met them a few times too (they flew to us once, we flew to them another time), and we send photo updates. I'm the sole name on the birth certificate and have all parental rights, but I'm so happy for my son to have contact with his biological relations. This arrangement has worked out far better than any of us ever expected!
Ours is the ultimate success story and I'm forever grateful to Pride Angel. I literally met the donor for the first on the day we inseminated. I knew when I first messaged him that he was something special – but he has literally been an angel in my life. I'm only frustrated with myself for not going the known-donor route to begin with. I'd been nervous about the risk of STIs and the donor wanting custody – but honestly, the donor is such a genuine person and I'm forever grateful that my son knows and can speak to his biological father.
Having my son is the best decision I've ever made. And he's the best donor I could have ever hoped for. As well as the usual (attractive, intelligent etc) he's incredibly kind, empathetic and courageous. I'm glad my son has his traits!"
Akua, Europe - May 2020