Infertility Services: Sperm Donor/Recipient
Approximately one-third of infertility is due to conditions affecting the male sperm count. In some cases, there is a complete absence of sperm, or prior treatments using the partner’s sperm have been unsuccessful. In these circumstances, your doctor may recommend using a sperm donor to help achieve a pregnancy.
On this page:
Sperm Donation
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- Male partner with complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate
- Previous failed fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection or poor embryo development
- Single people or same-sex female couples
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Donor sperm is traditionally obtained from a commercial sperm bank. There are multiple banks throughout the country that you can choose from. Using one of the sperm banks, you can select a donor with the specific characteristics that you desire.
You can also arrange to have someone you know be your sperm donor. This is called a directed donor. We still recommend that directed donors are processed through a commercial sperm bank so that all the appropriate testing is performed and the person is legally designated as a donor.
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Donor sperm can either be used for intrauterine insemination (IUI) or with in vitro fertilization (IVF). Your doctor will perform a series of tests to determine which treatment is most appropriate for you.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
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ICSI is a laboratory procedure performed by our trained embryologists that involves the injection of a single sperm directly into a mature egg under a microscope using a glass needle called a micropipette.
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ICSI is recommended for:
- Infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) due to male infertility
- Patients with a previous history of lack of fertilization or embryo formation after conventional IVF
In cases with no sperm in the ejaculate due to a blockage, sperm aspiration or testicular biopsy may be performed by our colleagues in Reproductive Urology to retrieve the sperm for ICSI.