How Sperm Banking Work?
By Chioma Umeha
Advancements in technology have made sperm banking
relatively convenient and affordable. To begin the process, a man will go to a
sperm bank facility and provide a semen sample.
Or, he can use one of a few FDA-approved home kit
to collect a sample in the privacy of his own home, and send the sample to a
clinical lab for storage. This method can help reduce the anxiety and stress
that accompanies semen collection at a sperm banking facility.
Once the sperm sample has been collected, the
sperm banking facility will typically perform an analysis on the sample to
determine sperm count and motility, along with screening for sexually
transmitted diseases and other infections.
The sperm sample is then transferred to specially
designed vials, and a cryopreservative compound is added to help protect the
health of the sperm during freezing and thawing. The vials are placed in the
freezer, and the temperature is gradually decreased to the below freezing.
The annual fees for sperm storage are different at
each facility, but are typically no more than a few hundred dollars a year.
Sperm can be kept frozen for many, many years, and using frozen sperm does not
increase the risk of birth defects. When a man wishes to withdraw his sperm, he
must notify the sperm banking facility and request that sperm be shipped to his
physician or a medical facility.
How do you know if a sperm bank is reputable?
Before deciding which sperm bank to use for sperm
storage, be sure to do your homework. Ask about laboratory accreditation, state
licenses, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance, and be sure you
are aware of any fees associated with storing and withdrawing sperm.
And, if you are planning to purchase donated sperm
from a sperm bank, there are many, many factors to consider. FDA regulations
require that sperm banks comply with standards for screening and testing of
donors, maintain proper records, and undergo compliance audits.
However, outside of these regulations, sperm banks
are permitted to establish their own guidelines related to collection and
sharing of donor information and limitations on the number of births from any
one donor.