Sperm banks, or cryobanks, are specialized facilities that store human sperm for use by clients who are trying become pregnant through artificial insemination. In the United States, these facilities are regulated as human tissue banks by the Food and Drug Administration.
Although clients can select sperm donors on the basis of height, hair color, blood type and other physical characteristics, sperm donors typically remain anonymous. While statistics on clients who utilize sperm banks are difficult to come by, it is likely that 50 percent of these clients are single women, 33 percent are members of gay families and 20 percent are married couples. A significant number of clients in those last two categories may also work with surrogate mothers.
Sperm banks screen prospective donors carefully by setting age requirements and testing for chromosomal abnormalities and genetic diseases. Many cryobanks require prospective donors to produce medical records for several generations of family members. For this reason, the incidence of genetic diseases among children conceived with donated sperm is significantly lower than rates in the general population.
Sperm banks also test the motility and viability of sperm from prospective candidates, because after sperm is collected and frozen, individual spermatozoa must be hardy enough to survive the freezing and thawing processes.
Many cryobanks put limits on the number of pregnancies that can be achieved from a single donor’s sperm. Sperm donors are paid for their donations.
Cryobanks sell vials of sperm. For the most part, they are not actively involved in the fertilization process.
Fertilization using sperm harvested from donors is usually performed in a physician’s office. For optimal results, this process should take place within 24 hours of ovulation. To help ensure a successful pregnancy, many physicians will prescribe medications like Clomid for women trying to become pregnant.
The insemination process itself is much like a conventional pelvic exam. The physician will use a speculum to open the vagina and deposit the sperm into the cervical area with the use of a soft catheter. A cervical cap will be placed over the cervix to keep the sperm in place. This cap may be removed a few hours after the procedure.
If you have any further questions about sperm banks or surrogacy visit us at Simple Surrogacy or call toll-free at 1-866-41-SURRO.
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