Sperm Banks
Sperm banks, also known as cryobanks, exist to help women or couples who are experiencing fertility problems. Some banks serve heterosexual couples where the man has a fertility problem and others prefer to focus on helping single women and lesbian couples. It is not uncommon for cryobanks to be used by men who will be undergoing chemotherapy, vasectomy, or other medical procedures to preserve the option of fathering children in the future.
For Donors
While men may donate to a sperm bank for a variety of reasons, the screening process is the same for all of them. Often donating will require a commitment for one year, in which there will be intensive physical exams, blood and urine analysis, regular blood draws, sperm-count testing, and other tests the bank deems necessary. Screening for STDs, including HIV, and genetic diseases are included in the testing. Potential donors must give a fairly extensive account of their family history to screen for medical conditions passed on genetically. Finally, donors are often asked to give some personal information, such as education, why they're donating, an audiotape, or even a baby picture, to assist women in choosing which donor they prefer. Donors also have the option of allowing any children they father to contact them when they reach the age of 18.
When donating sperm, donors are often asked to make one donation per week and can not have ejaculated within 48 hours of donating to the sperm bank, to preserve semen potency. Donors are often paid around $100 per donation.
For Clients
Your first consultation with a sperm bank will look at how that particular bank screens its donors, how the sperm is stored, the preferred method of insemination, and other services, as well as fees for the services offered and any other concerns or questions that you may have. Some banks will allow you to perform insemination at home, while others state that you must use a doctor for the chosen procedure.
Once you're comfortable with the agency, you can begin the search for a specific donor of your choosing. Often you'll need to pick a couple of back-up donors when your first choice is not available. Identifying information often includes height, weight, age, hair color, eye color, ethnicity, education, profession and more.
