A sperm bank, semen bank or cryobank is a facility or enterprise which purchases, stores and sells human semen. The semen is produced and sold by men who are known as sperm donors. The sperm is purchased by or for women for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy or pregnancies other than by a sexual partner. Sperm sold by a sperm donor is known as donor sperm. Sperm is introduced into the recipient woman by means of artificial insemination or by IVF and the process may also involve donated eggs or the use of a surrogate.
A sperm bank may be a separate entity supplying donor sperm to individuals or to fertility centers or clinics, or it may be a facility which is run by a clinic or other medical establishment mainly or exclusively for their patients or customers.
From a medical perspective, a pregnancy achieved using donor sperm is no different from a pregnancy achieved using partner sperm, and it is also no different from a pregnancy achieved by sexual intercourse. By using sperm from a donor rather than from the woman’s partner, the process is a form of third party reproduction.
Why Sperm donation?
Sperm donation is done to help an individual or a couple to get pregnant. It helps people who are unable to conceive that is a woman who doesn’t have a partner or a couple who are experiencing male infertility.
If you donate your sperm, you are likely to get paid for each donation that passes the sperm bank screening process. The payment made is to compensate for your time and any related expenses.
Risks
There are no risks found to be associated with the donation of sperms.
How will you prepare?
If you are planning on donating your sperm, you should be mindful of the long-term impact it will have on your life.
If you are planning on an anonymous donation, you should consider the following
- Are you ready to be the biological father of a child or multiple children whom you might never meet?
- Are you ready to meet the children conceived with the help of your sperms if they wish?
- Are planning on telling your current or future family about the donation?