?Sperm donation may seem like a strange or even laughable proposition for many people. The idea of donating sperm can bring to mind desperate or even creepy men that enjoy the donation process too much. However, these cliches are simply not true: sperm donation is not a creepy process. In fact, it can be a very useful process for many men and women. It can also help give donors a little extra money in economically troubling times.
Sperm donors are donating sperm to help women and couples that are struggling to conceive. Donors often don't meet the people who receive their sperm. This depends on whether the donor is anonymous or not. Non-anonymous donors may receive information about the parents and the child that results from his sperm. This all depends on the donor agreements and each sperm bank's individual policies.
Becoming a sperm donor has many requirements which vary depending on banks. However, there are a few basic requirements for nearly all banks: individuals must be at least 18 to 44 years old. Any later and the sperm may be off poor quality. Donors may not have been adopted or have any significant illness or conditions. This is especially true of sexually transmitted diseases. They can also have no family history of genetic diseases and the ability to produce four to eight specimens per month and to sigh a six month contract. Again, conditions and requirements vary on the bank.
Donors must fill out a questionnaire about their health and give a sperm sample before they become donors. This sample is tested for quantity, quality and how well it freezes. Donors with quality sperm are invited back for a physical and to produce another sample to be tested for diseases. Accepted donors come to the laboratory at least once a week and are given a private room. Videos and magazines are available for each donor. Their sperm is collected and frozen.
Payment for sperm specimens varies depending on the bank. Expect around 35 to 50 dollars per specimen. Donors can generally come into the bank twice a week.