People use donor sperm to get pregnant for many reasons. A couple may use donated sperm due to male infertility. Some couples use donor sperm to avoid passing a genetic disease carried by the male partner to their children.
The decision to use donor sperm is extremely personal, and you should only make it after careful consideration and discussion. A known directed sperm donor is someone you know but is not your intimate partner.
UCRM offers services for directed donation, including eligibility determination under FDA regulations and sperm processing and freezing. You can buy sperm samples from anonymous donors from sperm banks. Sperm banks screen donors for infectious diseases and genetic conditions.
There are many commercial sperm banks. Please talk to your provider if you are considering a sperm bank that is not on the list:.
Seattle Sperm Bank. Criteria for sperm donor qualifications beyond those required by the FDA vary between sperm banks and can be found on their websites. You can usually search sperm donor profiles by a variety of characteristics, including physical attributes, profession, hobbies, ethnicity, and many others.
