Meet Our Newest Sperm Donors

Posted on May 16, 2012 by admin

Blog written by Fairfax Laboratory Director Michelle Ottey, PhD.

The link on our homepage brings you to a page that highlights our newest donors. Have you ever wondered what it takes to get the donor to this point?

When men are interested in becoming a sperm donor they apply at www.123donate.com. Their initial application is reviewed and if they appear to be a good candidate they are invited to complete our medical application, which includes three generations of medical history.

Our trained staff then reviews the medical application using stringent guidelines. At this step, approximately 50% of the prospective donors who complete the medical application are invited in to screen samples.

When the guys come in to the clinic they begin their relationship with the staff and clinic. This is the first step in our getting to know them personally. The staff takes the time to chat with them as they give them a tour of the clinic and explain the process. The prospective donors are required to produce 3-4 samples that will be used to screen the quality of their sperm sample.

If the samples meet our high standards and survive the freeze thaw process he will sit down with a member of the staff for his medical interview. The medical interview is an in depth, detailed discussion of the program, his medical history, and the significance of the commitment that he is about to make. If all goes well all of the prospective donor’s information is sent to our Donor Review Committee which includes me, the Laboratory Manager and Director, the Director, the Medical Director, and a genetic counselor. If he meets all of our initial standards then we give an initial approval. This means that he will now undergo extensive genetic and infectious disease testing, a physical exam, and will begin the process of providing a lot of personal and family information.

If all of the testing comes back clear then he will be reviewed again and receive final sign off which means he can start leaving samples that will be stored.

That is just the beginning.

The donor then works with the staff weekly to provide sperm samples, each of which is analyzed, processed, and tested to ensure that we are able to provide the highest quality donor sperm to our recipients. The donor is constantly screened and questioned about his health and lifestyle choices. They are required to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a specific number of abstinence hours, and constantly answer deeply personal questions.

All of the samples must be stored in quarantine for a minimum of 180 days, after which the donor undergoes more testing to demonstrate that he is disease free, and then those samples will be reviewed and cleared for sale.

Posted in About the Cryobank, Becoming a donor, Donor sperm, Working at a sperm bank | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Get out in the Sun!

Posted on May 2, 2012 by admin

Blog written by Fairfax Cryobank Compliance Officer Amy Erickson Hagen

We know the sun is good for our emotional wellbeing but can it also affect fertility? New research says yes! According to Austrian physicians Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch and Elisabeth Lerchbaum vitamin D plays a role in human fertility. Deficiency of vitamin D can cause infertility among women and men. They found that low levels of vitamin D often lead to too much testosterone, which therefore could increase the risk of infertility among women. Also, when men are given extra vitamin D they produce more testosterone subsequently affecting the semen quality.

Researchers said, “It may not be that controlling vitamin D is the ultimate answer to fertility problems but it could be a very cheap and simple solution at least in some cases.”

Sources of Vitamin D:

• Fatty fish species, such as:

• Catfish, 85 g (3 oz) provides 425 IU (5 IU/g)

• Salmon, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz) provides 360 IU (3.6 IU/g)

• Mackerel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 345 IU (3.45 IU/g)

• Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 50 g (1.75 oz), 250 IU (5 IU/g)

• Tuna, canned in oil, 100 g (3.5 oz), 235 IU (2.35 IU/g)

• Eel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 200 IU (2.00 IU/g)

• A whole egg provides 20 IU if egg weighs 60 g (0.333 IU/g)

• Beef liver, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), provides 15 IU (0.15 IU/g)

• Fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil, 1 Tbs. (15 ml) provides 1360 IU (90.6 IU/ml)

• UV-irradiated mushrooms and yeast are the only known vegan significant sources of vitamin D from food sources. Exposure of portabella mushrooms to UV provides an increase of vitamin D content in an 100-g portion (grilled) from about 14 IU (0.14 IU/g non-exposed) to about 500 IU (5 IU/g exposed to UV light).

Getting out in the sun can have multiple effects to fight off those “I want to have a baby blues.”

See the article here: Vitamin D and fertility-a systematic review

Sources: Wikipedia

Posted in Donor sperm, Pregnancy, Working at a sperm bank | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Importance of Sperm Motility and Count

Posted on April 25, 2012 by admin

Blog written by Fairfax Laboratory Director Michelle Ottey, PhD.

Here is some information about motility and count to clarify the importance of these factors with regard to frozen sperm. If you think about the vial of sperm there are two things that are important on the post thaw at your clinic:

1. That the proper thaw procedure is used, as specified on the instructions that accompany the dose

2. The analysis of the sample upon thaw will look at the count and the motility

It is not motility alone that is important, nor is it count alone that are important. The magic number is the Total Motile Cells (TMC.)

For example, your clinic may thaw a vial that has a motility of 50% post thaw and a count of 5 million cells. To get the TMC you multiply the count by the motility. In this case you would have a total of 2.5 million motile cells, 2.5 million swimmers.

A better vial would be one where you have a post thaw of, let’s say 35% motility and a count of 30 million cells. This would mean 10.5 million motile cells, 10.5 million swimmers.

Motility is not an indicator of the individual sperm’s ability to get the job done, rather it is the total number of sperm minus the non-motile cells.

Posted in About the Cryobank, Donor sperm, Working at a sperm bank | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Only You Know What Makes a Donor Special

Posted on April 19, 2012 by admin

Blog written by Fairfax Cryobank Staff SS

For those looking for the ideal donor, it is about finding that special emotional connection. Once you filter the entire list on ‘must have’ criteria, the short list still offers many options that require further consideration. The process can take weeks. Perhaps the childhood photo provides that connection.

Or perhaps is the way a donor presents his personal views in his essay or audio interview that lets you make your final decision. Our audio interview questions give exceptional insight: Describe a moment of epiphany? Which of your characteristics would you like to see flourish and which wither? What is the most special gift you have ever received? What is something nice you could do for someone you love?

What you know about your donor is often highly personal and defining. And if your child ever asks, ‘Why did you choose this donor?’ You can say with conviction that there was this special ‘something’ about him that made him the perfect choice.

Posted in About the Cryobank, Donor sperm, Pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why follow Fairfax Cryobank on Facebook?

Posted on April 13, 2012 by admin

Blog written by Fairfax Cryobank Family Forum Moderator Desiree

Why should you follow Fairfax Cryobank on Facebook? Here are 5 great reasons to check us out!

1. Support! You are not alone in your fertility struggles! See how many other strong and dedicated women are posting their tips, frustrations and joys on our Facebook page.

2. Updates! If you are in the process of ordering and shipping items from Fairfax Cryobank, make sure you are up to date on holiday hours, ordering deadlines, and shipping requirements posted on our Facebook page.

3. Specials! Everyone is looking for a great deal. The Fairfax Cryobank Facebook page posts our latest and greatest specials and deals so you never miss out on saving some money.

4. Newest donors! Be the first to hear about the newest donors to the Fairfax Cryobank catalog. If you are a Club Fairfax member, you get first dibs on our new donors.

5. Hope! There are many healthy births that result from utilizing sperm from Fairfax Cryobank. Taken directly from one of our Facebook posts “Just heard that one of our clients has welcomed triplets! Congrats X 3!!!”

Posted in About the Cryobank, Donor sperm, Pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Did the Urologist Say to the Sperm Bank Employee?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by admin

Blog written by Laboratory Staff JM

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a urologist in the area, outside of work. Most of the men he would refer to a sperm bank would be considering a vasectomy, or possibly banking sperm prior to cancer treatment.

When the urologist discovered that I worked at the Cryobank, he said “I’m so honored! In my practice we call you folks Rock Stars!” Flattered, you bet I was! It was great to learn more about what happens on the urology side of things, and the doctor said the same, he had many questions about how things are done on the sperm banking side of the fence.

With most of the publicity about sperm banks relating to Donor Sperm, it’s easy to forget that sperm banks provide fertility preservation services to men for many reasons: prior to cancer treatment and other medical reasons, military deployment, vasectomy, etc.

Posted in About the Cryobank, Client depositor, Working at a sperm bank | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sharing a Journey with Our Clients Via Social Media

Posted on March 28, 2012 by admin

Blog written by Laboratory Staff JM

One of my ‘sometimes’ tasks as an employee of the Cryobank is keeping up with the social media side of things. It’s not my primary task, but one of those tasks that I take on here and there, and one of the most fulfilling tasks!

I look forward to the interaction with our “fans” or followers. Sometimes I’m answering questions about donors or products, like Lifetime Photos. Sometimes I’m posting pregnancy report info, which is always exciting! Sometimes, I’m interacting on a thread about random things, like what everyone’s favorite Holiday cookie is.

It’s great to interact with those who are trying to conceive, especially when folks post photos of their babies/children/pets! Our followers have great insight, and it’s a task that I find refreshing!

I hope that our followers continue to ask great questions, give useful feedback, and keep posting those baby photos!!! Visit us on Facebook.

Posted in About the Cryobank, Pregnancy, Working at a sperm bank | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sperm Banks Help Grow Your Family, Not Design a Baby

Posted on March 20, 2012 by admin

Blog written by Fairfax Cryobank Director of Operations Michelle Ottey, PhD.

There has been a lot of talk about designer babies in the media in regard to using donor sperm. The subject of genetically engineered or designer babies will often be mentioned in articles discussing donor selection and assisted reproduction.

This talk is more science fiction than fact because using donor sperm doesn’t allow someone to manipulate genes and create the perfect baby or design the baby of their dreams. The use of donor sperm simply allows women the ability to safely conceive a healthy baby. Being able to select a donor based on his hair color, eye color, ethnicity, education or his interests doesn’t constitute making designer babies and saying so cheapens the emotional experience that many women and couples have when using donor sperm.

Sperm banks are incredibly selective in the screening process, assuring that no donors are a carrier for common genetic disorders and testing all donors for infectious diseases. We start by evaluating the donor’s medical and genetic history and also consider the donor’s Phenotype, which is their observable traits and characteristics. Most sperm banks aim to have a diverse group of donors available so as to appeal to the needs of the various clients. Realistically, not everyone looks like Johnny Depp or Brad Pitt, and, more importantly, not everyone agrees that either of them is the most desirable in terms of appearance. Clients are often trying to match their donor to the appearance or traits of a partner or family member.

Choosing a sperm donor, in some ways, is similar to choosing a partner, and physical appearance is part of that process. We all screen prospective partners by interests, personality and other characteristics that are important to us as individuals. It makes logical sense that when someone is choosing a sperm donor, they would be looking for similar traits that they would look for in a potential partner. You can always choose a sperm donor based on his desirable traits, but you can’t choose the traits your baby will inherit from you or the donor. Using a sperm donor is akin to using the natural process of conception where no genes are manipulated in anyway.

Posted in About the Cryobank, Becoming a donor, Donor sperm, Pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Just one reason why donors donate

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin

Blog written by Laboratory Staff MC

One of the great ways to learn about our new donors is through their donor audio interview. This morning I interviewed a donor who has been in the program for a few months. Chatting with him up to this point had already taught me that the donor was an extremely outgoing, talkative, and fun-loving guy.

By the end of the interview, I had learned a whole new, more serious side of him. Not only had he gone through multiple interesting careers in his life, but he also opened up about the reason he became a donor. He shared that a close friend of his had difficulty conceiving a child for many years.

This donor saw how fertility struggles impact people’s lives, and because of that he knew how much he could help others through his gift of sperm donation. I’m so glad I had to opportunity to interview him.

Posted in Becoming a donor, Donor sperm | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Step by Step

Posted on March 7, 2012 by admin

Blog witten by Fairfax Cryobank Director of Operations Michelle Ottey, PhD.

This past weekend I had brunch with a very good friend. She is in a good place in her life and in her relationship of 10 years with her partner, so she is seriously considering building a family.

Being in a same-sex relationship means that she and her partner will have to use donor sperm to conceive. It is both exciting and overwhelming for them, and like many couples in the first stages of the journey, they don’t even know where to start.

After she initially brought up the topic of having babies and using donor sperm, we moved on to other things: catching up and laughing as old friends do. We both knew we’d get back to the specifics, and we did. Because she had a “friend in the know,” she peppered me with questions, most of which were the downstream steps. Being the organized and structured person that I am, I said, “Let’s start at the very beginning, and then we’ll get to the fun stuff.” We both laughed and dove in.

Step 1: Consult with Your Physician

For anyone just starting on this journey toward parenthood, there are obviously discussions to be had with your partner and/or your support network. Once you are ready to make a move, the very first step should be a doctor’s visit to check your fertility.

Many women are waiting until their early to mid-30s to have babies, so this is a necessary first step. I am a firm believer in getting all of the information and going in with your eyes wide open. Visiting your physician will give you a good picture of your fertility and general health; which will allow you to set up realistic expectations for the process of becoming pregnant.

Step 2: Choose Your Sperm Donor

Once you have consulted with your physician and know what your options are for insemination or IVF, you can proceed with purchasing your donor sperm. Many people start looking for their sperm donor first, which is a smart move.

Choosing a sperm donor can be quick or take a significant amount of time. It is a very patient-specific process.

Step 3: Make Your Purchase

Once you choose your sperm donor, you should plan to make your purchase. One tip I have is to think about your desire for multiple children, because this will affect your purchase size. It is always a good idea to purchase enough vials for multiple cycles if possible. This will ensure that you have the vials should you choose to have another child. From time to time, a sperm donor’s inventory will sell out, so it is best to purchase when the vials are available.

Most sperm banks offer on site storage, which allows you to purchase the vials for future use and store with the sperm bank. If you do not need the vials, storing on-site allows for returns. This is important because once the donor sperm vials leave the sperm bank, we cannot offer returns because we have no way to guarantee the vial handling.

Step 4: Insemination or IVF

For most people the next step is the artificial insemination process, and for some it is the IVF process. Your physician will have the detailed information about those steps for you.

I have had the opportunity to work with several friends through their process of building their families, and it has been a unique journey for each of them, though there are common experiences and emotions throughout the process. Many patients find that connecting with others on a similar journey provides support and experience that they didn’t expect. There are online communities such as FertileThoughts® and resources for people on this journey toward parenthood, including the FertilityAuthority website.

I told my friend that it is important to be self-aware throughout the process and to keep an open mind. Just talking about the specifics seemed to fuel her energy for the process. She is ready to proceed step by step and build a family.

Posted in Donor sperm, Pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment