How to Purchase Donor Sperm

Finding a Facility and Donor

Research sperm banks online. Type “sperm banks” or “cryo banks” into a search engine online. You will find different facilities along with customer reviews and experience stories. Read the reviews to get an idea of how the facility operates, then navigate to the facility websites to learn about their unique rules and practices. You may not find facilities near you. This is okay. Many facilities sell and ship samples without you ever having to visit in person. There is no real advantage to choosing a nearby facility unless you want to visit in person or are looking for specific donor profiles. Choosing a distant facility may reduce the chances of encountering other children from the same donor.

Browse the donor catalog for potential matches. Choose any facility, then look at the top of the website for a tab that says something like “donor search” or “find a donor.” Browsing is usually free. Flip through the catalogs from a few facilities and select some profiles that pique your interest. This is the same information available to you if you visit the facility in person. Profiles include a basic description of the donor, including their personality, educational background, and ancestry. Customize your search with the catalog's menu options. For example, you can search for donors with a specific eye and hair color. Sperm banks also offer the option to pay for extra information. Use this to access features like a donor’s audio interview and baby pictures.

Decide if you are okay with an anonymous donation. Read the profiles to learn what types of samples donors offer. It will say either “ID Disclosure” or “Anonymous.” You cannot learn the full name and identity of the donor. However, if you choose an ID disclosure sample, a child you have can request the donor’s identity once they reach adulthood. The rules on this depend on where the facility is located. Some may only provide anonymous samples while others offer only ID disclosure samples. The age a child needs to be before making an ID request also differs from facility to facility. Normally it is when they reach 18 or 21 years old.

Work with someone you know if you feel comfortable doing so. You may also choose a known donor, such as a friend. In this case, the process for ordering sperm is the same. The person has to go to the facility for screening first. Contact the facility first so they can coordinate with you and the donor.

Check the amount of samples available from the donors. Samples may be in limited supply from the donor you chose. Find this on the donor profile. Generally, the word “low” means the donor has less than 10 samples available, “medium” means there are 10 to 25 samples available, and “high” means more than 25 samples available. If you are worried about the number of samples, call the bank. Sometimes the facility has extra samples in storage that aren’t displayed on their website. Some countries also have a pregnancy quota. A donor can only be used for a limited number of pregnancies. This information will show up when you look at the profile.

Completing the Facility’s Paperwork

Fill out the registration forms. Go to the sperm bank’s website or call them to have them send the documents to you. First, fill out the client registration form with your personal information. The form also has space for you to include your partner’s information and your referring doctor’s information if you have it. All of the required documents can be downloaded online, sent through the mail, or filled out in person at the facility.

Complete the agreement to purchase. Locate the paper with “agreement to purchase” written at the top. This paper sets up a legal agreement between you and the facility. Read it over, then initial the pages and sign the last page.

Have a doctor fill out the medical release form. This form authorizes the facility to release the sample to you. Basically, it proves that you discussed your options with a licensed medical specialist. The doctor indicates where the sample will be shipped and what it will be used for. Search online to find reproductive medicine or fertility specialists in your area. Some sperm banks have a search option on their website you can use to quickly locate specialists near you.

Complete the sample transportation document. Consider this an order form. Write down the specimen you want to order, then indicate where it will be shipped to. Finish the form by writing down your billing details. You will still need to confirm the order later after submitting all your papers. If you plan on storing the sample at home, you will also need to sign a storage agreement with this.

Return all of the completed documents to the facility. If you live near the facility, you can always drop them off there. Otherwise, send the forms back by fax or email. Look at the facility’s website for their fax number and email address.

Purchasing and Using Donor Sperm

Finish purchasing the sperm vials online. Once you have submitted the documentation, choose the specimen that seems right for you. The easiest way to do this is online. Go onto the website, find the donor profile, and select the “add to cart” button. Complete the purchase by indicating the number of vials you want to buy and when they should be shipped to you. You may also call or visit the facility to complete the order. Typically, the sample has to be sent to a facility or your house. Some facilities may let you transport the specimen yourself in a nitrogen tank or cooler filled with dry ice. You can complete a purchase before filling out the facility’s paperwork. However, they will not even reserve the specimen for you until they receive every page.

Choose between washed or unwashed samples. You may be asked to choose between IUI-Ready (washed) and ICI (unwashed) samples. Choose the type that works best for how you plan on using the sample. Washed samples are treated by a professional who cleans out everything but the sperm. Washed samples are used in intrauterine insemination. A doctor injects the sample contents directly into your uterus. It is a little more expensive, but it helps if you have a semen allergy or fertility issues. Unwashed samples, used in intra-cervical insemination, can be taken with or without a doctor present. This is the kind you want if you plan on injecting the specimen in the comfort of your own home.

Use the donor sperm when it arrives. Plan on having your order arrive a few days before ovulation. If you sent the sample to a doctor’s office, go to them when you are ready for treatment. Otherwise, follow the sperm bank’s instructions for handling the specimen yourself. For a home ICI injection, you need a syringe without a needle. Let the specimen defrost first. Inject it directly into your reproductive tract, not through your skin.