What Should I Look for in a Sperm Donor?
Are you considering using a sperm donor to help build your family? Sperm donation programs aid those who are LGBT or facing infertility, as well as single women. Once the decision to use a sperm donor is made, the next step in the process is choosing a sperm donor program, and then a donor within that program.
Sometimes, intended parents will have a clear vision for the type of sperm donor needed to help build their family. For others, the decision is more open-ended. After all, what should you look for in a sperm donor? What characteristics are important? Is there anything you’re not considering but should? These are all understandable questions, and we’ve put together a guide to help growing families choose a sperm donor.
Looking beyond physical appearance
For some, the number one priority when choosing a sperm donor is what the donor looks like – hair color, eye color, height, weight and race are go-to information points. Intended parents often search for a sperm donor who looks like they do or like their partner does. This common instinct dates back to the origin of sperm donation services, and remains an important priority for parents today.
However, the modern sperm donor profile presents more information than a physical description and photo of the donor. Sperm donor profiles provide details on the donor’s blood type, education level, occupation, marital status, languages spoken, whether he is a twin or not, ethnic origin (paternal and maternal), career goals, interests/hobbies, how he would describe himself, and a familial medical history, among other details.
These details help provide a full picture of the type of person a prospective donor is. More than ever, intended parents are reporting that they weigh factors like education, medical histories and career goals in addition to physical appearance.
How do I start searching for a sperm donor?
At the Fertility Center of California, we’ve made searching for the right sperm donor simple. You can start a sperm donor search free of charge today. No-charge sperm donor profiles provide a basic overview of the donor’s information. If you’re interested in learning more about a specific donor, or you would like to view full profiles while you search, we provide access to single profiles for a fee of $20/profile, or access to all profiles for $100/month.
If you have any questions about our sperm donation program or finding a sperm donor, please contact our office today.
