Choosing a sperm bank comes down to a handful of critical factors: how rigorously the bank screens its donors, whether you want your child to eventually contact the donor, how many families can use the same donor, and how the bank handles shipping and storage. Getting these decisions right upfront saves time, money, and emotional energy later. Here’s what to evaluate before you commit.
Check for FDA Compliance and Accreditation
Every sperm bank operating in the United States must follow FDA regulations for human cells and tissues. These rules require banks to perform a formal donor eligibility determination, which includes both a medical history screening and laboratory testing for infectious diseases. At minimum, donors must be tested for HIV-1 and HIV-2 using FDA-licensed screening tests, along with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis. Banks must also screen donors for risk factors like intravenous drug use and recent incarceration.
FDA compliance is the legal floor, not the ceiling. Some banks go further by seeking voluntary accreditation from the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), which imposes additional quality standards on storage, record-keeping, and facility operations. When comparing banks, ask whether they hold AATB accreditation. A bank that only meets the bare FDA minimum isn’t necessarily unsafe, but accreditation signals a higher level of internal oversight.
Understand What Donor Screening Covers
Donor screening happens in two layers: infectious disease testing and genetic carrier screening. On the infectious disease side, donors are tested and questioned about HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, hepatitis B and C, and other sexually transmitted infections. Any positive result or significant risk factor disqualifies a donor.
Genetic screening is where banks differ most. The FDA requires infectious disease testing but does not mandate a specific panel of genetic tests. Reputable banks typically screen for conditions like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, Tay-Sachs, thalassemia, spinal muscular atrophy, and several rarer inherited disorders including Gaucher disease, Canavan disease, and familial dysautonomia. Some banks test for over 200 genetic conditions, while others cover a smaller panel. If you know your own carrier status for any genetic condition, look for a bank that screens donors for that same condition. Many banks will share a donor’s full carrier screening results with you or your fertility clinic upon request.
Beyond lab work, donors typically complete a detailed medical history questionnaire covering three generations of family health, including cancer, heart disease, mental health conditions, and autoimmune disorders. The depth and accuracy of this family history varies by bank. Some conduct in-person interviews, others rely on written forms. Ask how the bank verifies the information donors provide.
Open-Identity vs. Anonymous Donors
This is one of the most consequential choices you’ll make, and it’s worth thinking through before you start browsing donor profiles. In the United States, donors can choose to be either anonymous or “identity-release” (also called open-identity or open donors). The Sperm Bank of California pioneered the identity-release model in 1983, and most major banks now offer it.
With an identity-release donor, the bank agrees to share the donor’s identifying information with any offspring who request it after turning 18. The donor is anonymous during your child’s early life but has consented to be contactable later. With an anonymous donor, no identifying information is ever released through the bank.
A few things to keep in mind. First, the law on this varies globally. Countries like the UK have eliminated anonymous donation entirely, while Denmark and the US still allow donors to choose. Second, consumer DNA testing has effectively made true anonymity impossible. Even if you choose an anonymous donor, your child could potentially identify them through services like 23andMe or AncestryDNA. Third, research on donor-conceived people consistently shows that many want access to information about their biological origins, even if they don’t necessarily want a relationship with the donor. Choosing an identity-release donor gives your child that option without requiring them to navigate it through a DNA database.
If you’re leaning toward an anonymous donor, that’s a legitimate choice, but go in with realistic expectations about what “anonymous” means in 2024.
Family Limits and Sibling Considerations
Family limits cap how many families can conceive using the same donor. This matters for two reasons: it reduces the chance your child will unknowingly encounter a half-sibling, and it affects whether you’ll have access to the same donor if you want a second child.
Banks set their own limits, and they vary widely. The Sperm Bank of California, for example, caps each donor at ten families, which they describe as the lowest limit in the nation. Because a single family might have multiple children from the same donor, the actual number of offspring per donor can exceed the family limit. Other large banks may allow 25 or more families per donor. Ask any bank you’re considering for their specific cap.
If you think you might want more than one child from the same donor, plan ahead. Many banks allow you to purchase and store extra vials after your first successful pregnancy. The Sperm Bank of California, for instance, sets aside inventory for families wanting genetic siblings and recommends buying additional vials as soon as you’ve confirmed a live birth. Popular donors can sell out, and once a donor retires or reaches their family limit, those vials are gone. Buying extra vials early is one of the most practical things you can do.
Some banks also maintain sibling registries, which allow families who used the same donor to voluntarily connect with each other. This can be valuable for your child later, giving them access to half-siblings if both families opt in.
Vial Types and Quality Guarantees
Sperm banks sell two main vial types: ICI (intracervical insemination) and IUI (intrauterine insemination). ICI vials contain unwashed sperm and can be used for at-home insemination or cervical cap procedures. IUI vials are washed and prepared for direct insertion into the uterus, which is done at a clinic. Your fertility provider will tell you which type you need based on your treatment plan.
Most banks guarantee a minimum motile sperm count per vial, often expressed as total motile sperm count (TMSC). A common guarantee is around 10 to 15 million motile sperm per vial for IUI specimens. If a vial falls below the guaranteed count after thawing, many banks will replace it or credit your account. Ask about this policy before purchasing. Interestingly, research published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that lower total motile sperm counts in donor samples from commercial banks did not significantly affect pregnancy rates from intrauterine insemination, so a vial meeting minimum standards is generally sufficient.
Shipping, Storage, and Timing
Sperm ships in portable liquid nitrogen vapor tanks that maintain proper cryogenic temperatures for about seven days from the date of shipping. That gives you a workable window, but timing still matters. You’ll want to coordinate your shipment with your ovulation cycle or your clinic’s treatment schedule.
Banks ship directly to fertility clinics or, in some cases, to your home. Shipping costs vary: expect roughly $200 to $300 for priority overnight delivery, with local courier options sometimes available in areas near the bank. The shipping tank itself is typically a rental that you return after use.
If you’re not ready to use your vials immediately, most banks offer long-term storage for an annual fee, usually a few hundred dollars per year. Storing vials at the bank or at your clinic gives you flexibility around timing without worrying about the seven-day shipping tank window.
Comparing Donor Profiles and Information
Banks offer varying levels of detail about their donors. Basic profiles, usually free, include physical characteristics like height, weight, eye color, hair color, ethnicity, and blood type. Extended profiles, which typically cost $15 to $30 to unlock, may include childhood photos, audio interviews, personality questionnaires, handwriting samples, staff impressions, and detailed essays written by the donor.
Some banks also provide donor “silhouettes” or facial feature reports created by staff who have met the donor in person. Others offer photo-matching services where you submit a photo of someone (a partner, a family member) and the bank suggests donors with similar physical features.
When reviewing profiles, look beyond surface traits. Pay close attention to the donor’s educational background, medical history, and the genetic screening results. A donor whose profile includes a thorough three-generation health history is more useful to you long-term than one with a great photo but sparse medical information. Your child’s pediatrician will eventually ask about family medical history, and whatever the donor provided through the bank may be all you have.
Cost and Hidden Expenses
A single vial of donor sperm typically costs between $500 and $1,200, depending on the bank, the donor, and the vial type. IUI-ready vials tend to cost more than ICI vials. Most people need multiple vials across several cycles to achieve pregnancy, so budget for at least three to six vials as a starting point.
Beyond the per-vial price, factor in extended profile fees, shipping costs per delivery, annual storage fees if you’re banking extra vials, and any tank return shipping. Some banks charge a registration or account setup fee. These extras can add $500 to $1,000 or more to your total cost, so compare the all-in price across banks rather than just the per-vial sticker price.