How Anonymous Sperm Donation Works
A third-party reproductive service such as sperm donation is a great option for single women, lesbian couples, or heterosexual couples dealing with male-factor infertility. Sperm donors are typically anonymous, however, some intended parents choose to receive sperm from a friend, relative or even an acquaintance, who is then referred to as a ‘directed or known sperm donor.’ If you do not know someone who is willing to donate their sperm, you’ll most likely use an anonymous donor, meaning no identifying or contact information is shared between any parties involved (including the donor-conceived child). You’re probably wondering then how such an arrangement can even come to be, so to answer any questions you may have, we’ll walk you through the anonymous sperm donation process, which can be a bit more involved than, say, asking your neighbor for a sperm donation.
Choosing an Anonymous Donor
When embarking on this process, intended parents are given access to a database with profiles of all potential donors. While you will not find photographs of the donors, you will be able to learn other key details such as their height, weight, ethnicity, hair and eye color, education, medical history, personality characteristics and hobbies. Many intended parents like to choose a donor most similar to themselves, however, make sure to also evaluate how a donor’s medical history would interact with your own.
As a note, all of our sperm donors are between the ages of 18-24 and have undergone an extensive screening process which includes a background check, physical exam, semen testing, genetic testing, psychological evaluation, character and personality evaluation, infectious disease testing. Once a donor has passed the screening process, his sample is collected and frozen for later use.
Conception
Once a donor is selected, you are ready to conceive. Depending on your treatment plan, the sperm sample can be used for an artificial insemination, in which the sperm is injected into a woman’s uterus, or the sample can be sent to a lab and used to fertilize an egg via IVF.
Stay Connected
Talk to your doctor to see if your sperm donation is right for you, and if you have any questions and concerns regarding the anonymous sperm donation process, contact us today.
