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New Girl and Donor Sperm Question

starlitfaestarlitfae member
in Infertility
Hi everyone!  Ive been hanging out in the TTTC board for a while, and someone suggestion I come here to ask my questions :).

DH and I are both 32, and we have been TTC for 6 years.  I have had 3 IUIs and 3 IVF cycles (two retrievals and one failed transfer).  Our problem seems to be male factor - DH has a low count, and we found out last year he also has a chromosomal defect called a balanced translocation - two of his chromosomes are broken and switched, which causes him no problems but creates issues with TTC.

We have one more embryo in storage, but we made the decision to try IUI with donor sperm this summer, when we have the money ready and I lose a few lbs to get back within my RE's guidelines (I have to go there, its the only place my insurance will cover).  Ive done some research into pricing donor sperm, but I would love to hear from someone who has gone through the process of getting it.  How far in advance did you have to start the process?  About how much did you have to pay for storage?  (I forgot to ask about that one!)  If the process takes a while, it would probably be better to get more than 1 vial since I don't have high hopes for the first time working (even though I have no problems except my body responding slowly to injectable stims).  Any first hand experience would be greatly appreciated!

TTC since 2011

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Re: New Girl and Donor Sperm Question

  • J1006J1006 member
    I just did my IUI with donor sperm. We used Midwest (my doctor refers hers patients to Midwest or California cryobank). We just used one vial and it was $525 with shipping.  Since we did an IUI we didn't have to pay for storage. They ship it in a tank that keeps it frozen for 7 days. We just had to time the shipping correctly.  My doctor had forms to fill out and fax as did we. I would say a few days to get all the paperwork in and set up as a patient. Once again this was with MSB, so I'm not sure how long it would take with other services. 
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  • blackrose-9blackrose-9 member
    edited May 2017
    Seattle Sperm Bank is $635 plus shipping. It's $50 to become a member for 3 months. This gives you access to their baby photos, medical records (as well as family medical history), audio review, personal statement from donor, and Keirsey Test.  They also do a donor of the month where you get two vials for the price of one if you choose that donor. They can do overnight shipping but it costs extra. They can ship it directly to your RE which I think is easier, from there you would pay your doctor the storage pricing if they have any. Mine doesn't unless its a "long term" storage.
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  • KLake42KLake42 member
    Every time we made a purchase, we got 2-3 vials, because shipping was so expensive.  It worked out to something like $1200 per vial, including shipping.  My doctor didn't charge for shipping as long as we were actively in a cycle.  We paid extra for non-anonymous, meaning that a kid could contact the donor (through the bank) when the kid's 18 (presuming the bank is still in operation), with genetics questions.  

    That seems like something that grown-up donor kids find valuable.

    Me- 39 (turning 40 in April), TTC for the first time ever (since Jan 2015), low ovarian reserve
    Married 3/14/14 to my wonderful wife, but her sperm count is rather low
    TTC with frozen donor sperm and science

    7 IUIs, 7 BFNs.
    2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs.
    Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire.
    Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus!  
    fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP! 
    Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)

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  • starlitfaestarlitfae member
    Thanks everyone for your responses!

    My RE doesn't offer storage, so I would have to go to a nearby facility. That facility also has a small sperm bank (It's the Jones Institute, part of Eastern Virginia Medical School), and they are my first choice for obvious reasons.  But they are very small, and I was told when I first asked about it last year that they may not be able to help me and I may have to go someplace else.

    TTC since 2011

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  • 2MomsHoping2MomsHoping member
    We used farifax.  Our decision was mostly based on finding a donor we really liked there.  We have purchased two sets of sperm and got both on sale (I know weird right).  About once a quarter they run a sale where if you buy 4 vials you save 20%.  We decided to ship all our specimens to our fertility clinic for storage there.  As far as timelines it was all pretty quick.  There is some paperwork with the clinic but I think I went from purchase to shipped and ready to use at my clinic in under two weeks.
    Me:38 DW:33 
    TTC History in Spoiler ***Trigger Warning*** Losses/Child Mentioned 
    Dx: My wife has no sperm  :D and apparently my embryos aren't as good as they look
    2016
     * April IUI#1 - BFN
     * June IUI#2 - BFN
     * July IUI#3 - CP  :'(
     * Sept IVF#1 - 4 Retrieved & Mature, 4 Blasts.  Fresh Transfer 1  - CP  :'(
     * November FET #1 - Transferred 1 Blast - CP  :'(
    2017 Switched REs - Recurrent loss testing for me - all normal, remaining 2 frosties sent for PGS - both abnormal
     * April/May IVF#2:  9 retrieved, 8 mature, 7 fertilized, 7 blasts!  Sent for testing - 2PGS Normals (0 remaining)
     * November IVF #3 12R, 8M, 6F, 4 blasts! - All 4 PGS normal!
     * November FET# 2 (Transfer a PGS normal from IVF#2) - BFP!!!
    2018 DD born 8/20/18
    2019 5PGS frosties ( 4 remaining)
      * September FET#3 (1PGS normal) - Beta#1: 139.7  Beta#2: 322.6

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