1
Select a sperm donor
You'll choose either a known donor or an unidentified donor through a trusted sperm bank. Your care team can help you understand your options and answer any questions along the way.
Understanding donor sperm
Building a family looks different for everyone. If you're experiencing male-factor infertility or don't have a sperm-producing partner, may be an option to consider as part of your family-building journey. We're here to guide you with expert care every step of the way.
What is donor sperm?
Donor sperm comes from a known or unidentified donor and can be used as part of fertility treatment to help you build your family.
Some patients choose a known donor, such as a family member or friend, to create a biological or personal connection to their future child. Others choose an unidentified donor through a trusted sperm bank, giving them access to a wide range of carefully screened donor options.
Who uses donor sperm?
Donor sperm can be a part of the fertility treatment journey for many families, including those with male-factor infertility, individuals without a cisgender male partner, and single mothers by choice
Growing your family with our donor services
Choosing donor sperm is a deeply personal decision, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our experienced team provides personalized guidance, advanced fertility care, and compassionate support to help you move forward with confidence. We also offer an in-house cryobank for freezing remaining eggs, sperm, and embryos.
Whether you're just beginning to explore your options or are ready to start treatment, we're here to help you on your fertility journey.
Navigate the donor sperm process confidently
From choosing the right sperm donor to starting fertility treatment, your care team and embryologists work together across your journey.
2
Coordinate your donor sperm
Once you've selected a donor, you'll purchase the appropriate number of sperm vials. The sperm bank will then ship the frozen sperm directly to Everleap Fertility where it will be prepared for your treatment.
3
Begin your fertility treatment
When everything is ready, your donor sperm will be thawed and prepared in our laboratory before being used for IUI or IVF, depending on your personalized treatment plan.
Selecting sperm was a wild process, one that both my wife and I loved. It felt like our future baby was getting closer to being a reality!”
Megan & Cait
Your care team, from clinic to lab
The doctors at the heart of your care
Get to know the doctors who bring deep fertility expertise to your care while taking time to understand your history and priorities
Inside our embryology labs
Much of IVF happens beyond the exam room. In our labs, experienced embryologists closely manage fertilization and embryo development
Navigate the donor sperm process with confidence
Explore trusted guidance from our fertility experts to better understand how using a donor sperm works and feel more confident about your next step.
How much does donor sperm cost?
How is donor sperm used in fertility treatment?
When might donor sperm be an option?
Learn more about fertility treatment
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What fertility treatments can use donor sperm?
Donor sperm can be used with intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). The right treatment depends on your medical history, fertility goals, and any underlying fertility factors. Your reproductive endocrinologist will help determine which approach may be appropriate for you.
How do I choose a sperm donor?
You can choose either a known donor, such as a family member or friend, or an unidentified donor through a sperm bank. If you choose an unidentified donor, you'll have access to detailed donor profiles that may include physical characteristics, education, medical history, and family health information. Your care team can help you understand your options and navigate the selection process.
What's the difference between a known and an unidentified sperm donor?
A known donor is someone you know personally, such as a friend or family member. Before treatment, known donors complete medical, genetic, and infectious disease screening, along with a psychosocial evaluation. Their sperm is also quarantined and retested before it can be used. An unidentified donor is someone who has donated through a licensed sperm bank. These donors have already completed extensive screening, testing, and quarantine, making donor sperm available for treatment once it's shipped to your fertility clinic.
Where do you obtain donor sperm?
We partner with several trusted sperm banks, including California Cryobank, Fairfax Cryobank, NW Cryobank, and Seattle Sperm Bank. While patients are welcome to choose any accredited sperm bank, our partner banks offer access to a diverse selection of thoroughly screened donors. If you're planning to have more than one child with the same donor, your physician may recommend purchasing multiple vials at the same time, if available.
How are sperm donors screened?
All sperm donors must meet strict screening requirements established by the FDA and sperm banks. This includes reviewing their medical, genetic, and family health history, along with testing for infectious diseases.
How is donor sperm stored and prepared for treatment?
Donor sperm is frozen after collection using a process called cryopreservation. When you're ready for treatment, the sperm is shipped to us, carefully thawed in our laboratory, and prepared for your IUI or IVF procedure.