How to Find an Ideal Sperm Donor

Parents have a lot of decisions to make when in need of unconventional fertility treatments to grow their family. For example, men struggling with infertility, female couples, and single women who want to have a baby may need a sperm donor. 

Finding an ideal sperm donor isn’t always easy. There are many factors you need to consider, including the type of relationship you want your donor to have with your child, the legal arrangements, and physical characteristics. 

At Great Beginnings Surrogacy Services in San Diego, California, Dr. Samuel Wood and our team assist intended parents (IPs) with many aspects of the surrogacy process, including help with sperm donation. 

In this month’s blog, we want to go over some of the things you need to consider when looking for an ideal sperm donor.

Set your criteria

Your baby inherits half of their genetic makeup from the sperm donor. Many characteristics are based on genetics, including physical attributes and inheritable health issues. You need to decide what traits you want your child to have when looking for a sperm donor, such as:

• Ethnicity
• Height
• Eye color
• Hair color
• Personal and family health history

Beyond the physical characteristics, you may also want to consider your donor’s education level and current occupation. 

Determine donor type

Do you want an anonymous or known sperm donor? This is an important question since it affects how involved the donor may be in your child’s life. Many people choose an anonymous donor to reduce the risk of legal complications. 

If you know someone who meets your criteria and agrees to the arrangements, great. But keep in mind that your known donor must go through the same sperm donation process as an anonymous donor.

The FDA regulates donated sperm, and all sperm donors must undergo health screening and testing for infectious diseases to reduce the risk of complications. 

Find a sperm bank

Once you set your criteria and decide what type of donor you want, it’s time to find a sperm bank. The right sperm bank for you might depend on whether you use a known or anonymous donor and your location. 

If you choose an anonymous donor, the sperm bank you choose matters. All sperm banks have their own set of criteria for their donors, such as education level, age, and body size. Though some highly selective sperm banks only collect from prestigious donors, most carry a diverse selection of donors that reflects the population.

With a known donor, the location and reputation of the sperm bank may be the primary concerns. 

Review sperm donor profiles

Sperm banks collect information from their donors to create profiles. If you’re using an anonymous donor, this is your chance to review many profiles to find the ideal candidate. 

All donated sperm is tested for infectious disease. Some sperm banks may also test for genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis. However, genetic testing isn’t mandatory, though it’s one of the recommendations from the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

Consult with a genetic counselor

If you have concerns about inheritable diseases from your donor or because of your family history, consult with a genetic counselor. They can review your selected donor’s profile and talk to you about genetic risks based on the information available. 

Finding the ideal sperm donor isn’t easy, but we can help you through the process. It’s one of the services we offer for our LGBTQA+ clients.  Call our office today at 858-922-8544 to set up a consultation.