Sperm Donor FAQs
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Donation Offices
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Sperm Donor FAQs
How does sperm donor compensation work?
Why do I have to live near a facility to become a donor?
How long is the minimum donor commitment?
How long will it take to hear back after I apply?
How long will it take to get into the program?
Is it true that I will receive physicals and infectious disease testing at no cost?
How many times a week can I donate?
What are the specimens used for?
What are the legalities of sperm donation?
I was not accepted into the program, does that mean I cannot have children?
Donors have stated that they are driven both by the knowledge that they are helping an infertile couple to have a family of their own, and the financial compensation we provide for donors’ time and effort. For more information, read some of our donor testimonials.
How does sperm donor compensation work?
Sperm donor compensation includes bi-weekly or monthly payments in the form of a check, as well as the knowledge that you are helping infertile couples. The average donor earns $4000 in a six month period, although many are compensated more based on a healthy lifestyle and optimal abstinence hours. Sperm donor compensation is provided only after a donor is fully accepted into the program. Applicants who are not accepted into the program are not compensated. Donors are considered independent contractors and will receive a 1099 for taxes.
Your anonymity is very important to us. All donor information is completely confidential. Online applications are submitted directly to your local facility, and we do not share your information with outside parties. Donor files are numerically coded to assure confidentiality. Access to files is restricted. Your identity will not be revealed to any recipient, nor shall the identity of any recipient be disclosed to you. In the case of ID Options donors, only offspring, upon reaching the age of 18, can request basic contact information.
Why do I have to live near a facility to be a donor?
Donors need to be within a commuting distance to a facility because they will be visiting the clinic weekly.
How long is the minimum donor commitment?
We have two options for a minimum commitment for our donors.
- A minimum three month commitment is designed for individuals who are interested in participating as ID Option donors that allows for release of identifying information when offspring are 16 or 18 years of age, will complete a counseling session, and whose donations will be limited to a total of 5 recipients only.
- A minimum six month commitment is designed for individuals who are interested in participating as either an Anonymous or an ID Option donor (contact information is made available to 18 year old offspring upon their request).
The minimum commitment is required so we have enough specimens to compensate for the expense of the medical testing involved. The majority of donors choose to and are allowed to continue donating past the 3/6 month point.
The first step is to complete the online application. Your application will be reviewed and we will contact you via email to inform you whether or not you have been selected to continue the donor process. For more information, please see the steps to becoming a donor page.
How long will it take to hear back after I apply?
We review applications on a regular basis. Potential donors can expect a response within one week after submitting the online application. Sometimes we receive a large quantity of applicants at once, which delays our response time. If you have not heard from your local facility within a week, please email. See the contact us page for a list of email addresses.
How long will it take to get into the program?
The process can take up to three weeks. Applicants should expect to spend at least one hour filling out the medical questionnaire and one hour for the interview. Up to four appointments may be scheduled with your local facility for semen evaluation. An initial blood draw and physical will also need to be scheduled before final approval. Once accepted into the program, we will require blood draws at three month intervals, and physicals at six month intervals.
Is it true that I will receive physicals and infectious disease testing at no cost?
You will have a physical exam, provide a urine sample, semen sample, and have your blood drawn. The genetic and infectious disease testing is very extensive, implements the most advanced technology available today, and is fully compliant with FDA regulations.
Specimens are produced by self-masturbation in private collection rooms. Literature is provided for donors. Donors are always welcome to bring personal laptops or music players with headphones. Most facilities offer a television and videos in at least one of the donor rooms.
How many times a week can I donate?
Donors typically come in once a week, but it is possible to donate twice a week depending on the number of abstinence hours you need for a good sample.
What are the specimens used for?
The specimens are used by women and couples to fulfill their dream of having children.
What are the legalities of sperm donation?
The men who participate in our Sperm Donor program are not known to the patient purchasing their donor sperm. Agreements for the purchase and use of donor sperm are made between the Cryobank and our patients; no agreement links the donor and patient directly.
All of our donors sign a donor agreement, a legal document waiving all parental rights and responsibilities to children conceived from the purchase from their sperm. By signing, donors assume no responsibility or liability for any offspring conceived through donor semen; donors will have no rights to any offspring conceived.
I was not accepted into the program, does that mean I cannot have children?
Our testing is not a reflection of whether or not you can have a child, but rather whether your specimen can withstand our processing procedures. In order to provide the best quality product to patients, we need men who produce high quality sperm. Men who fall into the normal range do not make it into our program, but can, and do, produce healthy and happy children. If we see anything that may impact an applicant's ability to conceive children when we are performing our analysis, we immediately notify him and refer him to a specialist.