Using Donor Sperm at NYULFC
Many families benefit from using donor sperm to grow their families. At NYU Langone Fertility Center (NYULFC), our expert Third Party Reproduction team can guide you through the donor sperm process and show you what a real and viable solution donor sperm can be.
Who May Need Donor Sperm?
There are various reasons why a couple or individual may need donor sperm to grow their family. Those who benefit from donor sperm include:
- Single or lesbian women
- Male partners who have no recoverable sperm
- Couples who want backup specimens for challenging cases of male factor infertility
Using a Known Donor
While some aspiring parents prefer having a friend or relative as their sperm donor, this option can raise sensitive questions and decisions in regard to parenting. Therefore, we require several actions before receiving a sperm donation, including:
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Psycho-educational Consultation with a Mental Health Professional: At NYULFC, we require all parties involved in a known donation to attend at least one counseling session with our onsite psychologist, who is familiar with the issues that may arise in this arrangement.
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Legalities: Before insemination, the aspiring parents and donor must create a valid and notarized legal agreement or contract outlining parenting rights and responsibilities.
Using a Nonidentified Donor
Patients who choose to use an anonymous sperm donor obtain frozen samples from licensed sperm banks within the United States. NYULFC does not own or operate a sperm bank. However, our Donor Egg and Third Party Reproduction team will be happy to help you find one.
Some sperm banks provide detailed information about their donors, including their identity, ethnicity, and medical history, but most banks do not offer donor photos. Certain sperm banks may allow for future contact between adult donor-conceived individuals and the donor, either for medical reasons or upon mutual agreement.
Certified sperm banks must meet specific requirements for donor screening. Potential sperm donors undergo rigorous testing for infectious diseases. Afterward, their sperm is frozen and stored at the sperm bank for six months. The donor is then re-tested before their sperm is made available to clinics and patients. Our patients have the option to select any certified sperm bank. They are responsible for choosing their donor and covering the costs associated with using the sperm bank.
The Donor Insemination Process
Donor insemination (DI) involves injecting a woman with sperm from a known or anonymous donor. The procedure is usually performed during natural cycles without the use of fertility medications. However, women in their late 30s or older, or those who have not succeeded with donor insemination in natural cycles, may be advised to take fertility medications to increase the number of eggs for potential fertilization. If insemination with donor sperm is unsuccessful, or if other fertility factors indicate the need, we may proceed with in vitro fertilization (IVF) using donor sperm.
Our Third-Party Reproduction Team
At NYULFC, your care team will include your physician, our Donor Egg and Third Party Reproduction team, partner Mental Health Professionals, and nurses, coordinators, and medical and administrative assistants, all of whom are here to help you navigate every step of your journey to parenthood using donor sperm.
Dr. Jacquelyn Shaw is the Director of the Donor Egg and Third Party Reproduction department at NYU Langone Fertility Center. The Third Party Department is supported by dedicated Nurses, Patient Care Coordinators, Genetic Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals, all of whom are here to help you navigate every step of your journey to parenthood.
Learn More About Using Donor Sperm at NYULFC
Third-party reproduction is a personal journey, and you deserve to have an experienced and compassionate fertility team on your side. At NYU Langone Fertility Center, we’re here to help you build your family in a way that works best for your unique needs. Contact us today to learn more about the donor sperm process.