Purchasing Donor Sperm
This is one question we get quite frequently. Where do I start?
This may seem like a confusing time, but ultimately you are wanting to start or grow your family, which will be an exciting milestone in your life!
To get started, we recommend contacting a fertility clinic to begin your journey. We have lots of recommendations and will be happy to guide you in the right direction.
Additionally, you have the option to do at-home insemination, and although we do not recommend this path, it is still an option, and we have seen success with vaginal insemination.
Prior to releasing any vials, either for clinic insemination or at-home insemination, you will need to have our Clinic Release Form completed by your physician. You can find that form HERE.
Once this form is completed and returned back to us, we can release the vials for both clinic and at-home insemination.
At-Home Insemination:
A Clinic Release form is only required for home insemination if you are shipping to the state of New York. In New York, a Clinic Release will need to be completed by a physician, nurse, or midwife.
Which vial should I use?
Currently, the majority of our donors have washed vials only. Washed vials are IUI-ready sperm samples. These samples have been processed for intrauterine insemination (IUI), but it is safe and effective to use them for IVF and vaginal insemination as well. Many of our recipients have reported pregnancies from IVF and vaginal insemination using IUI-ready samples.
You will want to purchase your vial(s) at least one week prior to your scheduled insemination. By planning ahead, you will ensure your vials are ready to use when you are ready to use them.
How much does it cost?
Here are some estimated costs of getting a sperm donor:
Donor Sperm: $649.00 IUI/ICI
Shipping: $200 for 1 vial 2+ vials: FREE (check to find current promo code)* | In-state shipping (outside of DFW): $75.00 | Dallas-Fort Worth area clinics: FREE
At-home insemination will have a $50 flat rate tank rental (7-days) or Free with 2+ vial purchase
Total Cost: $649-$849 per cycle using 1-IUI vial
$1298-$1498 for 2-IUI (washed) vials.
If you have any questions on how to purchase donor sperm, feel free to give us a call at 817-945-8708. You can live chat with one of our friendly representatives, and they will also be able to assist you.
What is CMV?
CMV stands for cytomegalovirus. It is a virus that can be transmitted to a developing fetus before birth. It is a member of the herpes family of viruses that include mono and chickenpox. The CDC states that nearly 1 in 3 children have already been infected with CMV by age 5, and by the age of 40, over half of the population is infected.
Primary CMV infection occurs in people who have never been exposed to the CMV virus before. Once a person becomes infected with CMV, the virus remains alive but dormant inside their body for the rest of their life. Recurrent CMV infection is when a dormant virus becomes active again. CMV infection is usually harmless and rarely causes illness. However, primary CMV infection can cause more severe problems for pregnant women than recurrent CMV infection.
CMV and Using a CMV Donor:
The FDA requires CMV testing on all men who intend to donate sperm. A positive result, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that a man will be ineligible to donate. Cryobank America will obtain semen samples from potential donors and then quarantine those specimens for at least six months. During that time, the man may have had CMV antibody levels tested several times. If the antibody tests indicate the possibility of a CMV infection close to the time of the sperm donation, the man will not be allowed to donate those specimens. If the testing is uncertain, those men will not be permitted to donate those specimens. However, if a donor tests positive for CMV IgG only, indicating a past infection, he will be allowed to contribute. These samples are labeled in the Cryobank America database as CMV-positive.
Recommendations:
A woman considering pregnancy with donor semen should have CMV antibody testing as part of their IDT. Those with a past infection are at low risk of transmitting CMV infection to a fetus and are at little to no risk if they decide to use a CMV-positive donor. Women never exposed to CMV should consider using a CMV-negative donor. Even though the risk from a CMV-positive donor is low, it is impossible to determine whether there will be a risk for infection.
For additional information on CMV, this link is especially helpful:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cmv/symptoms-causes/syc-20355358
If you have any questions regarding CMV please contact us at [email protected] or at 817-945-8708 and we will be happy to help you out!