Sperm Donor, Sperm Bank and Infertility Blog

Welcome new members!

A big welcome to all our new members! Please drop by the forums to introduce yourself and feel free to contact us if you have any questions!

Best,
Sarah
SpermCenter Community Manager

Shipping Sperm Donor Semen to Canada from America

Most of the larger sperm banks will ship your sperm donor's semen to Canada, and probably some of the smaller ones as well, but it can definitely be a process. It can take anywhere from 1-3 months.

Because Canada requires some tests that aren't required in America, sperm banks who don't have Canadian-compliant sperm donors (meaning the donors have met all Canada's screening requirements) have to be approved by the health ministry.

How Much Does it Cost to Freeze Sperm?

This is an excellent question from one of our members. However, it's not easy to answer. How much storage costs depends entirely on your circumstances, what sperm bank you choose and how much sperm you decide to store.

Usually there is an initial consultation you will pay for where you meet with a counselor to discuss your options and fill out any applicable forms. This initial meeting may cost anywhere from $100 and up (not including the initial freeze).

How Does Sperm Storage Work?

You may want to consider storing your sperm:

Poor Quality Sperm? Could Be Electro-Magentic Fields

Yep, it sounds like something out of the Matrix, but it's very real. If you're having issues with poor sperm quality, the issue could be too much exposure to electrical devices. A  Stanford University study discovered that the more time men spent around motors and other electrical devices, the more likely they were to have poor sperm quality.

This is because of the electro-magentic fields produced by items like microwaves, vacuums and refrigerators. If you're trying to conceive, you may want to minimize the time you spend around anything electrical.

Is My Sperm Donor's Blood Type Important?

Blood type should be something you pay attention to when you're searching for a sperm donor if:

1) You want your child’s blood type to match your own or your partner's

2) You're Rh-negative, meaning you have a blood type of A-, O-, B- or AB-

Every blood type is either positive or negative, which is a reference to the Rhesus factor (Rh) of the blood. The Rhesus factor refers to an antigen present in the blood, and people with this antigen in their blood are considered RH+( O+, A+, B+, AB+)

Your Sperm Donor's Height

Height is one of the most popular traits people search for when they're looking for sperm donors. The most frequently requested sperm donor height? Over 5'9.

Because of this, many sperm banks require potential donors to be at least 5'9, unless the potential donor (and his specimen) is truly exceptional.

However, remember that height is just small part of the equation - it’s the donor as a whole that counts!

Fun fact: the average male height in the U.S. is 5’9 and the average female height is 5’4.

Sperm Bank Storage for Cancer Patients

Most of the time we think as sperm banks simply as places to find sperm donors. However, they can be valuable resources for cancer patients seeking to preserve their fertility.

Many cancer patients elect to store their semen and eggs to protect their fertility as they undergo chemotherapy and other treatments for cancer.

However, more patients than not don't realize this is an 0ption available to them. Even if they know the option exists, they may not think they can afford it.

Your Sperm Donor's Eye Color

Eye color, like hair color, is a popular trait people consider when choosing their sperm donor, but very complex.

If you or your spouse have a particular eye-color, in your sperm donor searches you might choose a color that closely matches yours. For example, if you have blue-green eyes, you might check blue and green to get all donors with blue-green, blue or green eyes.

Fun fact: Eye color can change over time, especially between the ages of 1 and 3.

Choosing Your Sperm Donor's Hair Color

Hair color is another popular physical trait people select when choosing a sperm donor. The genetics behind hair color are so complex you can’t predict what color your child might have.

If two people with blonde hair have a child, the probability of having a blonde-haired child may increase, but there’s never a guarantee.

Fun fact: Black hair is the most common hair color found across the globe.