Sperm Donor, Sperm Bank and Infertility Blog

Using the Donor Sibling Registry

We recently had a visitor ask about finding a child's sibling. There is one large website that connects siblings and often donors; it is called The Donor Sibling Registry.

Different sperm banks may also have sibling registries, like California Cryobank and Fairfax Cryobank (coming soon).

Florida Sperm Banks

We have received several inquiries lately about sperm banks in Florida.

Unfortunately, there aren't many choices.

If you're a sperm donor in Florida looking for a bank, your best bet is to inquire with:

Finding a Fertility Clinic or Doctor

At SpermCenter, we offer a list of fertility clinics, reproductive endocrinologists and much more. If you're just getting started in the process of figuring out your fertility and considering donor insemination, finding a great doctor or clinic is the first place to start.

Click on "Find a Pro" tab to access our directory of sperm banks, fertility clinics, legal services, emotional health & surrogacy agencies.

Telling Your Family About Using a Sperm Donor

The decision to use a sperm donor is one of the most important choices you can make. Many people experience different reactions and emotions from family members and friends when they choose to use a sperm donor from a sperm bank or any other way.

Regardless of how your family reacts (or doesn't) the most important thing to remember is that you and your future baby are the most important people to think about; the right choice is the one that works for you.

Getting Paid for Sperm or Donating It?

We recently recieved a question about getting paid for sperm vs. donating it. Different sperm banks have different policies; in the U.S. it is typical to pay sperm donors because of the time and committment required on the part of the donor.

However, sperm donors who want to donate for purely altruistic reasons have options:

1) Most sperm banks will waive payment if the donor requests it.

Genetic Testing...For You

While making sure our sperm donor's genetic and medical history is as clean as possible, we often overlook our own.

How many of us really have an in-depth knowledge of our genetic and medical history, or that of our partner?

This is something to take into consideration when you're thinking about having a child. There are some more affordable options today than ever, and they just keep increasing.

Companies like 23&Me, for example, perform genetic testing for health, disease risk & ancestry.

Can New Test Tell You How Long You're Fertile? Maybe

A new study from Iran suggests women may be able to predict when they will go through menopause, then calculate when their egg stash will begin to dwindle (since this happens approximately fifteen years before a woman goes through  menopause).

Can International Visitors Find Sperm Donors Via SC?

Yes, it is possible. International visitors may use SpermCenter just like U.S. users to find sperm donors; however, we don't list sperm banks from other countries at the moment.

Many sperm banks do ship vials internationally, so you should check SpermCenter's sperm bank search and call any banks to see if they ship internationally, what the process is and how much it costs.

Gestational Surrogates and Donor Egg Options

We recently had a question from a visitor that centers on a topic not discussed often; that of using a gestational surrogate and donor eggs.

In our visitor's case, his wife and he wanted to have children, but she had complications leading to a total hysterectomy.  Surrogacy wasn't an option as there are were no healthy eggs remaining after her surgery. He wanted to know if there were any options they could look into.

The answer was, and is, yes. The option in this case would probably be the gestational surrogate/donor egg route using the husband's sperm. 

The Sibling Donor Registry

If you're looking into the existence of your donor-conceived child's siblings, a great resource is the Sibling Donor Registry.

Wendy Kramer, a single mother who chose to have her son Ryan via donor insemination, started The Donor Sibling registry in 2000.

At the time, she knew other donor-conceived offspring would have the same curiosity as her son about their genetic origins. However, no public outlet or resource existed to address their curiosityand allow them to find out more about themselves, any potential siblings and possibly even their egg ot sperm donor.