Choosing Your Donor from a Sperm Bank
Choosing a sperm donor through Co-ParentMatch.com means you will get to meet your donor in person. You can then decide if they have the characteristics, looks and personality that you would like to pass on to your baby. Choosing a donor from a sperm bank means that you will have to make your selection based on baby photos and written personal information provided by the sperm bank staff and possibly the donor himself.
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Find a Reputable Sperm Bank
Investigate a number of sperm banks before making your final choice. Do your homework by visiting sperm bank web sites and looking at their stats. Check the sperm bank you are using is licensed and accredited.
Medical Testing
Sperm banks are required to screen all donors to check they are disease free. Screening includes tests for HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as genetic problems. Sperm banks will do a thorough evaluation of donors’ medical history. Frozen sperm will be quarantined for 6 months and the donor will then be re-tested after this period of time to ensure he is still disease free.
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Why should I look at the CMV Status of my sperm donor?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus which is part of the herpes family of viruses. Once you are infected with CMV it will remain inactive in your body for the rest of your life. CMV causes few symptoms in most people.
CMV can be spread through sperm donation and there is no cure. It is one of the most common viral infections and around 50% of adults may have the virus.
Congenital CMV is an infection which can develop whena woman is pregnant and infects the unborn baby so it is important to look at your sperm donor’s medical information and if the sperm bank you are using declares if their donors carry the CMV virus.
Where are the donors recruited from?
Ask your sperm bank if they recruit a certain type of donor such as students or tradesmen. Some sperm banks focus their recruitment in specific geographical locations.
Donor Confidentiality
What is an open ID donor?
Open ID donors are also known as ID release donors. In the USA and some European countries these are donors who have agreed to be contacted by their adult offspring when the child reaches 18 years of age.
Laws around open ID donors and anonymity of donors varies greatly in different countries so be sure to check with your individual sperm bank on their anonymity policies.
Donor Profiles
View donor profiles on the sperm bank websites. Some sperm banks will charge you to access donor profiles. Look at the donors physical characteristics, race, ethnic background, educational background, occupation, general health, and hobbies and interests. Some sperm banks will provide baby photos of the donor.
Personal characteristics
Search by personal characteristics such as skin colour, hair colour and eye colour. Some sperm banks will show baby photos and on others they may also show toddler, adolescent and adult photos. Often if the donor is an open ID donor there will be a good selection of photos to view.
Number of Pregnancies
Once you have found the donor you want based on looks and personal characteristics find out how many pregnancies the donor has previously produced. Ask what countries those pregnancies have been in.
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