Choosing an Anonymous Sperm Donor

Choosing a Sperm Bank-What is involved?

Choosing the Sperm Bank

Frozen sperm can be shipped, so you are not limited to sperm banks in your area. Most sperm banks will provide detailed information to you about their costs, procedures and donors. You should make sure that whatever donor bank you use screens its donors using guidelines that meet or exceed those of the American Association of Tissue Banks and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Some banks may require interviews or deposits before you may begin working with them.

Choosing the Sperm Donor

Most sperm banks will provide you basic information on donors at no cost to you. It may be necessary to pay a small fee to obtain an extensive, lengthier report for donors that catch your eye. Sperm donors are filtered by physical characteristics, education levels, ethnic background and other traits.

Securing the Sperm

Once you select the sperm donor, you will sign consent forms and pay the bank directly. Sperm for different procedures (artificial insemination and IVF) is prepared differently, and you should speak with your doctor as to which specimen you should order. The bank will then ship the vials to the doctor or the home in which you will do the insemination. Typically, several vials are purchased at once to ensure the possibility of multiple cycles or for storage of future pregnancies with the same donor.

You are now ready for the insemination process.