FCC Fertility Blog

Healthy sperm is something that men may not think about until they and their partner decide to build their family. In cases of infertility, women are typically the first to be tested weeks or even months before the male partner is considered. Many are surprised to learn that one-third of infertility cases are attributed to men – the same statistical percentage of infertility cases attributed to women. The remaining third is actually attributed to an unknown cause, referred to as “unexplained” infertility.

Are you interested in becoming a sperm donor? The Fertility Center of California (FCC) is welcoming applicants to our sperm donor program.

Sperm donor requirements

Dr. Martin Bastuba is the Tissue Bank Scientific Director and President of the Fertility Center of California (FCC). His is one of only 2% of board-certified urologists in the U.S. who specializes in male fertility treatment. Since 1993, Dr. Bastuba has helped countless couples and individuals build their families through infertility treatment and third-party reproduction, specifically sperm donation.

Hosted by RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association, this year’s National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) will take place on April 24^th – April 30^th. To honor and demonstrate our support for NIAW, the Fertility Center of California seeks to highlight the substantial need and value of third-party reproductive services like sperm donation.

In early 2016, German researchers announced the development of “spermbots,” or “tiny robot suits” that they believe will treat and effectively cure certain cases of male infertility. The team has yet to duplicate the successful results that occurred in their laboratory, but if they are able to do so, this new treatment option could revolutionize male fertility treatment.

Male factor infertility

Male factor infertility is a common reason for a couple to use donor sperm to build their family. There are various factors that can contribute to an infertility diagnosis in men. These factors can include illness such as cancer, hormonal disorders, sexual dysfunction, obstruction, or an injury to reproductive organs. Male infertility is often treatable, but in cases where treatment is unsuccessful or not applicable, couples will turn to a sperm donor.

Many people assume that gender selection is only used because some couples simply have a personal preference. Although this may be true for some couples, it is unfair to assume this is always the case. There are actually a few different reasons why some couples decide to use gender selection in order to choose whether or not their future child will be male or female.

How does gender selection work?

For many cancer patients in the past few decades, the time immediately after their diagnosis was solely dedicated to forming an effective treatment plan, often including chemotherapy and radiation without factoring fertility into the process. However, in recent years, male and female cancer patients have options to preserve their fertility, thanks to advances in reproductive technology and cryopreservation.

Whether you’ve decided to use donor sperm to build your family or if you’re considering becoming a donor yourself, there are still plenty of rumors out there regarding donation and using donor sperm.

Sperm banks in countries such as the U.K. and China are anxious to grow their sperm donor databases. As more couples and individuals look to grow their families using third-party reproduction, there is a higher need for donated sperm. The U.K.’s national sperm bank is currently overdrawn due to a combination of fewer donors and this increased need for sperm.