The Role of Sperm Banks in Fertility Treatment

A sperm bank collects, filters and stores sperm from donors for third party reproduction, mainly, artificial insemination. The need for donor sperm arises in cases where the woman’s partner is infertile or the woman chooses to conceive without the participation of a partner. Donor sperm can be used in IVF or intrauterine insemination (IUI). A sperm bank is the facility from where the sperm of an anonymous donor can be purchased, that is then used by the fertility clinic for reproductive treatment processes.

Through a process known as cryopreservation, sperm samples can be frozen for future use. This process is generally used by patients who need to undergo cancer and other treatments that may destroy their future fertility.

Sperm donation through a sperm bank helps in the following circumstances:

• When the male partner is sterile and unable to provide sperm sample for IVF or ICSI
• If the partner is experiencing low sperm count, poor motility or abnormal sperm morphology
• A couple may use a sperm donor to avoid passing on a genetic disease or disorder that is carried by the male sperm
• Single women and lesbian couples can take advantage of donor sperm to help them achieve the dream of having children

If a sperm donor is used in an IVF procedure, fertility medications are given to prepare the eggs for harvesting. Once retrieved, the eggs will be combined with the donor sperm and any resulting embryos will then be transferred back to the uterus.  For women undergoing IUI, the donor sperm will be deposited directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation. With this method, it is possible to do two inseminations in one cycle, thereby increasing chances of pregnancy.

Donor sperm screening procedure

All sperm donors undergo rigorous personal medical testing to ensure the health of their sperm. At the time of donation, they are screened for different infectious and genetic diseases like hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea etc. Sperm is then frozen and quarantined for six months. After the quarantine period, the sperm is then evaluated again for many of the infectious diseases it was originally tested for.

Legalities involved in sperm donation

While using sperm of an anonymous donor in a sperm bank, it is important that the couple or individual are given comprehensive orientation and even counseling to understand the psychological long-term effect of the process and to deal with the many legal questions and issues this procedure may throw up in the future. The choice of sperm donor is usually made based on factors such as his ethnic and/or racial background, physical characteristics, religion, education level and so on. The sperm donor does not have access to the woman’s identity at any time. In some states of the USA, a child conceived through donor sperm may have the right to request identifying information once they reach their 18th birthday. However, the fact that sperm banks have had no claims for paternal rights arising from donors in more than 50 years of sperm donation in this country is a very reassuring thought.

East Bay Fertility Center, Dublin California offers the latest infertility treatment options including Donor Sperm Intrauterine Inseminations, strictly adhering to the guidelines of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) regarding the use of donor sperm.

Under the guidance of Reproductive Endocrinologist and Medical Director Dr. Ellen U. Snowden, medical staff at East Bay provides dedicated treatment for infertility and reproductive endocrine issues. The Center specializes in providing infertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization, insemination, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, egg donation and gestational surrogacy.

Call 925.828.9235 for a free initial consultation