ASK THE DOCTOR - Sperm Bank Safety
Dear Dr. Ben-Ozer,
My partner and I (both female) are ready and excited about getting pregnant! We decided we prefer an anonymous sperm donor over using sperm of a male friend. I am concerned about the safety of using sperm of someone we would know very little about. My partner says if it wasn’t safe it wouldn’t be legal. Is she right? -Mary, in OH
Dear Mary,
Sperm safety at sperm banks is regulated by the FDA to minimize the risk of infection transmission. Therefore it is important to use a sperm bank compliant with FDA regulations. Sperm donors undergo an extensive infectious disease panel at the time of donation, the sperm is then quarantined for 6 months, and the donor is retested prior to releasing the sperm.
Dr. Ben-Ozer is Board Certified in Infertility & Reproductive Endocrinology and OB/GYN. She is the founder of the Tree of Life Center and practices in Tarzana and Beverly Hills. She is an associate clinical professor at UCLA Geffen School of Medicine. She specializes in sperm and egg donation, advanced maternal age, surrogacy, and recurrent pregnancy loss. You can find more information at click here, write us at benozer(dot)tlcfertility(at)gmail(dot)com or call TLC at (818) 344-TLC2 (344-8522).
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