How to Choose the Right Donor

How to decide which donor path is right for you — without second-guessing yourself later

This decision is bigger than most people realise.

Choosing a donor isn't just about getting pregnant.

It's about a decision you'll one day explain to your child. The story they'll grow up knowing. The questions they might ask at 10, at 18, at 30.

And right now, with Australia's sperm shortage making headlines and women being pushed into unregulated spaces out of desperation — having clear, calm, honest information has never mattered more.

This guide covers:

  • The three donor pathways available to Australian women — known donor, ID release clinic donor (including imported), and recruited donor

  • What each option offers and what each requires you to think about

  • The legal landscape in Australia right now — including the gaps

  • The sperm shortage and what it actually means for your options (including the international sperm bank pathway most people don't know exists)

  • The three decision anchors that help you think beyond the immediate decision

  • What most women wish they'd thought about before they decided

It won't tell you which option is best. Nobody can do that for you. But it will give you the framework to work it out for yourself — clearly, confidently, and without the overwhelm.

What’s inside:

  • The current Australian landscape — what the sperm shortage means and what it doesn't mean for your options

  • All three donor pathways explained clearly — including the imported donor option most women don't know is legal

  • The decision anchors — three questions that cut through the noise and help you think long-term

  • The self-check — where most women get stuck and how to move forward

  • A note on the recruited donor space — what you actually need to know before going anywhere near it

It’s practical, balanced, and designed to help you move forward with clarity — not overwhelm

Made by someone who's been through it.

Alisha Burns is the founder of Solo Mum Society, host of the No Need for Prince Charming podcast, and a solo mum by choice. Her daughter was conceived via donor conception.

Solo Mum Society is Australia's leading platform for solo motherhood by choice — supporting women at every stage of the journey, from considering to conceiving to raising their children with confidence.

This guide is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Laws around donor conception vary by state. Please seek independent legal advice if you are considering a known or recruited donor arrangement.