FCC Fertility Blog

Single parenthood is a route taken by those who are ready to grow their family on their own terms. Modern family building offers many routes to becoming a parent, including for single men and women. At Sperm Bank Inc., we’ve worked with countless single female parents who’ve grown their families after selecting a sperm donor. However, we know that practically speaking, it’s a bit daunting when you’re ready to get this process underway. We wanted to outline the logistics of getting to single parenthood for anyone who is interested or considering this path. 

When a male fertility issue is suspected, it may or may not come as a complete surprise. For those without underlying health conditions and no history of a groin injury, an infertility diagnosis can feel as if it’s come “out of nowhere”. After all, if you’re healthy, then why would there be an issue? But, what if you’re not able to check off that you are without an underlying condition? What if you have a personal or familial history that needs to be considered, and could possibly have a correlation to any difficulty you and your partner have while trying to conceive (TTC)?

Becoming a sperm donor is a wonderful way to help intended parents start the family they’ve always wanted. However, the process isn’t as simple as walking in to your local sperm bank and making a donation. Out of all applicants to the FCC donor program, less than three percent are accepted as donors. Even after an applicant is accepted, the health of the donor is continually monitored. 

Infertility can be difficult to deal with, and using a sperm donor can present its own set of emotional obstacles. Your fertility journey with an egg donor is an amazing step toward starting a family. However, between appointments, procedures, and treatment cycles, it can sometimes feel like forming a bond with your child is not a high priority.

Whether you are intending to conceive on your own, with a partner who has ovaries, or a partner whose sperm you can’t use due to health or genetic reasons, family planning contains many components. The decision to use third-party reproduction is a big step in your fertility journey, but another question remains--should you conceive with a known or anonymous sperm donor?

It’s one thing to find a local sperm bank, but it’s another to find one that you can trust. The to-do list of a parent-to-be in need of a sperm donor can be long, but it’s important to locate the right sperm bank for your growing family. To make this process easier, we wanted to highlight the features that make a sperm bank trustworthy so you’ll know what to look for as you make a decision. Not all sperm banks are alike, so let’s break down the checkpoints you can rely on to help ensure that the next steps in your family building journey are as straightforward as possible.

If you are facing a recent cancer diagnosis, you already have a very full plate. There is much to consider, and in the coming weeks and months, your daily life will change. There will be doctor appointments, testing, medication(s), and therapies on the docket, and the idea of adding just one more item may seem to push what is already an overwhelming situation beyond its limits.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a life-altering event. While processing everything that needs to happen with regard to treatment options and next steps, it can be difficult to consider the impact that successful treatment can have on family-building goals. When you’re just trying to get through the upcoming weeks and months, planning too far ahead can be challenging.

There’s the idea of becoming a sperm donor, and then there’s the reality of what it is really like to donate sperm. Many men may have considered donating their sperm at one point, but for those who ultimately decide to commit to the process, there are usually a few questions before things get underway. At the Fertility Center of California, we work with sperm donors from many different backgrounds and career and education levels.

A third-party reproductive service such as sperm donation is a great option for single women, lesbian couples, or heterosexual couples dealing with male-factor infertility.