There are many ways that people can become parents. But the basics include an egg, sperm, and a uterus. Here at San Diego Sperm Bank, we help provide sperm donations to aid in treatment for couples or individuals who are missing a sperm source.
Regardless of the reason why someone finds they need sperm donation, being a sperm donor means you are providing treatment options for families who cannot become parents without it.
Why would someone need donor sperm?
One reason donor sperm is needed for fertility treatments is when someone has been diagnosed with male factor infertility. Male factor infertility can be caused by something that the person was born with or caused by an injury or condition later in life. In either case, the individual would need a sperm donation.
Other reasons for using donor sperm are in cases where the individual or couple do not have a sperm source, for example, a single mom by choice or a lesbian couple.
How does sperm donation work?
Healthy men ages 18-39 apply to be in the program at San Diego Sperm Bank. The application process will ensure that donors are able to produce semen samples that are high enough quality to be suitable for treatment and check for both infectious disease and genetic conditions that can be passed down to future offspring.
We ask that donors commit to at least 1 donation a week for 6 months. However, donors are welcome to donate up to 3 times per week and often stay active in the program for 18 months or more. Donors receive routine health checks, including physicals and STI testing, as well as compensation for each donation.
What are the benefits to donors in the program?
Donors in the program are compensated $100 for each qualifying donation. A qualifying donation has good quality and would qualify for release for use in treatment. Donors also receive genetic carrier screening for 502 different conditions. This means donors have a blood test done that looks at their DNA for genetic conditions that are present. The genetic carrier screening performed is not shared with a database and is great information to have from a medical history standpoint. Other health benefits donors receive are routine health screenings, including physicals and STI testing.
And donors are doing good worldwide by giving people treatment options needed to become parents.
How do you join the donor program?
Joining the donor program at San Diego Sperm Bank starts with an online application and a semen analysis. We will likely ask for a second semen analysis, regardless of the outcome of the first one. Samples can vary day-to-day, so we will want to see a range.
After completing the semen analysis portion of the process, you will be asked about both your medical history and your family’s medical history. Any identifying information about you and your family will be confidential and is HIPAA protected. You will also get a full genetic carrier screening for 502 different genetic conditions as well as infectious disease testing. And finally, a full physical with our Nurse Practitioner.
If you have any questions about joining the donor program or about sperm donation, reach out to our Donor Coordinator at 858-732-8500 or [email protected].
