Planning your journey
While everyone’s path to parenthood is unique, when you’re using a sperm donor to help you build your family, there are some definite considerations you should make and steps you should take. Here are a few of the things we suggest you keep in mind as you chart your course to parenthood using donor sperm, starting with choosing the right sperm bank.
Search for your donor
Cast a wide net, initially
Try not to be too specific with your initial search criteria. Limiting your first search to one or two key characteristics should provide you with a good-sized list to start. If you search too specifically in the beginning, you risk eliminating donors who may meet most, but not all, of your criteria. You’ll have plenty of time to narrow the field as you go along.
Think about what’s important to you
Consider the things that are most important to you in a donor. Is it physical traits such as height, hair color, dimples, or something less tangible? Maybe it’s their education, experience, or sense of humor. The key to discovering these characteristics in a donor is to learn all you can from their profile. Each includes childhood (and sometimes adult) photos to give you a glimpse into their physical traits, but also essays and other items to showcase a donor’s personality, hobbies, talents, and points of view. So, you can learn if your favorite donor is maybe a scientist, artist, little league champ, animal lover or something else.
Discover their medical and genetic histories
Each of our donors has been rigorously screened to determine their physical and mental health. They also must be able to provide a family medical history that extends, at least, to their grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts. All of our donors undergo genetic testing for hundreds of conditions to see which they carry. If you are a carrier for the same condition, that might present a risk to any children conceived with this donor.
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It is not possible to test for or to identify every genetic condition or mutation. Genetic testing can reduce, but cannot eliminate, the risk for the genetic diseases included in that particular test. Interpretation of genetic data can also change over time as genetic technology and knowledge is improved.
Consider your future family
Vial availability
Down the road, if you decide to have more than one child, there’s no guarantee that your favorite donor will have the vials that you need available. That’s why it’s important to purchase not just the vials you need today, but also those you might need in the future, even if you’re just considering adding to your family one day.
Rely on continued support
California Cryobank believes in supporting our families far beyond the moment they’ve made their donor selection or purchased their vials. Which is why we ask each of our intended parents to complete an insemination report, letting us know about your results. It helps us to share important updates about your donor, and gives you access to some valuable exclusive California Cryobank family benefits — including FREE newborn stem cell preservation
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from CBR®, our Sibling Registry, and more.Annual storage fees will apply after the first year, and rates are subject to change.
Discover valuable resources
Still have questions?
Each moment in this process matters. We’re here to walk you through it all — from the biggest “what ifs'' to the smallest “but hows.”
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Discover more resources
Check out our valuable resources to help you learn more about using donor sperm for your family building.
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