How to choose, purchase, and manage donor sperm

While everyone’s path to parenthood is unique, when you’re using a sperm donor to help you build your family, there are some definite considerations you should make and steps you should take. Here are a few of the things we suggest you keep in mind as you chart your course to parenthood using donor sperm, starting with choosing the right sperm bank.

Get started

You’ll want to consult with your doctor to decide what type of insemination method or procedure you’ll be using: IUI, ICI, IVF (with or without ICSI). Some can only be performed at a clinic, while others can be done at home. It’s important to determine this information right up front to: 

Make sure the donor you’re interested in has the appropriate type and quantity of vials you’ll need for your particular procedure

Learn exactly how many vials you’ll need to budget for 

Understand how your choice will affect scheduling for shipping —and therefore scheduling for your procedure 

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Cast a wide net, initially

Try not to be too specific with your initial search criteria. Limiting your first search to one or two key characteristics should provide you with a good-sized list to start. If you search too specifically in the beginning, you risk eliminating donors who may meet most, but not all, of your criteria. You’ll have plenty of time to narrow the field as you go along. 

Find your donor

Think about what’s important to you

Consider the things that are most important to you in a donor. Is it physical traits such as height, hair color, dimples, or something less tangible? Maybe it’s their education, experience, or sense of humor. The key to discovering these characteristics in a donor is to learn all you can from their profile. Each includes childhood (and sometimes adult) photos to give you a glimpse into their physical traits, but also essays and other items to showcase a donor’s personality, hobbies, talents, and points of view. So, you can learn if your favorite donor is maybe a scientist, artist, little league champ, animal lover or something else. 

Discover their medical and genetic histories

Each of our donors has been rigorously screened to determine their physical and mental health. They also must be able to provide a family medical history that extends, at least, to their grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts. All of our donors undergo genetic testing for hundreds of conditions to see which they carry. If you are a carrier for the same condition, that might present a risk to any children conceived with this donor.

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Vial availability

Down the road, if you decide to have more than one child, there’s no guarantee that your favorite donor will have the vials that you need available. That’s why it’s important to purchase not just the vials you need today, but also those you might need in the future, even if you’re just considering adding to your family one day.

Family exclusivity

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Once you’ve chosen your donor, we’re here to make sure you get the vials you need — and that they’re kept safe and sound until they get delivered to the place and at the time you need them.

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Purchasing

We offer transparent pricing and all the information you need so that you can conveniently purchase your vials online. 

Storage

We offer a variety of short- and long-term storage plans to keep your vials safe in our state-of-the-art facility until you’re ready to use them. 

Shipping

Our sperm vials are shipped safely and securely — both domestically and internationally —using liquid nitrogen "dry" shippers, to maintain the proper temperature for up to 7 days from the date of shipment. 

California Cryobank believes in supporting our families far beyond the moment they’ve made their donor selection or purchased their vials. Which is why we ask each of our intended parents to complete an insemination report, letting us know about your results. It helps us to share important updates about your donor, and gives you access to some valuable exclusive California Cryobank family benefits — including FREE newborn stem cell preservation from CBR®, our Sibling Registry, and more.  

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