A Patient Guide to using Donor Sperm at Fertility Centers of New England

Fertility Centers of New England, LLC
New England Clinics of Reproductive Medicine, LLC
20 Pond Meadow Drive Suites 101
Reading, MA 01867
Main Office Phone: 781-942-7000 Fax: 781-942-7200
Monitoring Room Phone: 781-944-0052 Fax: 781-942-9840
Billing & Administration: Fax: 781-942-7906

 

 

Pre cycle testing
You will complete all evaluation testing before starting a cycle using donor sperm. You
may want to consider the following test results when choosing a sperm donor.

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CMV
Approximately 50 - 80% of adults in the USA are infected with CMV by age 40. Most adults with CMV
have no symptoms; others may develop mild illness, including fever, sore throat, fatigue, or swollen
glands. Pregnant women who are infected with CMV rarely have symptoms, but the developing baby may
be at risk for congenital CMV disease. Once infected, CMV is in a person's body for life, normally dormant.
CMV is the most common cause of congenital (present from birth) disability in the U.S. Approximately 1
out of every 750 children are born with or develop permanent disabilities due to CMV.
Risks are highest among women not previously infected with CMV who have their first CMV infection
during pregnancy. About one third of these women will pass the virus to their unborn babies.

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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of many tests required to be performed on sperm donors. Sperm donors
are required to be negative for many communicable diseases. The exception is CMV. A donor is an
accepted candidate if they have been exposed to CMV but were not infectious at the time of the sperm
cryopreservation.

Donors who test CMV Total antibody positive and CMV IgG positive may donate, but not anonymous
donors who test positive for IgM (or CMV NAT). CMV IgG positive testing suggests a past CMV infection
(donors are allowed to donate). CMV IgM (or NAT) positive-testing suggests a current or recent CMV
infection. Anonymous donors are not allowed to donate.

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If you accept donor sperm from an individual who tests CMV IgG positive (indicating a past infection),
you must consider the possible risk of transmitting CMV to your unborn child. Because your unborn
child may be affected, it remains a possibility you must consider. If an embryo is created with an egg and
sperm, in which one or both gametes were derived from a CMV infected individual, the resulting embryo
itself is not expected to be infected with CMV.

However, if the mother was exposed to CMV in the sperm, as in insemination or natural intercourse, she
could develop an infection which could affect the unborn child. If you are CMV IgG positive (you were
previously infected), your chances of becoming infected and transmitting a CMV infection to your unborn
child are low.

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FCNE and NECRM are third-parties to the decisions regarding donor candidacy and it is the exclusive
responsibility of the patient(s) to clarify with the supplier/agency relative to whether any donor may
cause a potential risk to the recipient/patient.

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Blood Type
Some patients feel that the sperm donor’s blood type is important when considering
donors. You may want to select a sperm donor whose blood type is the same as your
husband/partner (if applicable) if you are concerned about issues related to
confidentiality. Children do not always inherit the same exact blood type as their
biological parents. For example, a couple with blood types of A and B could have a child
with any of the four blood types: A, B, O or AB.

Genetic Screening
We recommend patients have genetic screening. You should also review and consider
the genetic screening of sperm donors you are considering. Testing is not necessarily
consistent across all sperm banks.

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Selecting a donor and ordering specimens
Once you complete all evaluation testing, your counseling appointment and have signed
consents, we suggest that you go on line to the sperm banks websites to look for your
donor.
Many sperm banks require that your doctor complete a form authorizing shipment of
sperm for you to our lab. This is only necessary when you order from a bank for the first
time. Please notify your Care Team that you need the form filled out and fax that form
to us at 781-942-0435 so we can complete it for you. You order the sperm directly from
the sperm bank and arrange for shipment from them to FCNE on a particular date.

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We recommend that you order ICI samples. ICI samples will be thawed and prepared for
IUI or IVF in our lab the day of your procedure.

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If you are doing IUI you should order 1 sample for your treatment cycle and have
sample delivered to our READING office by Cycle Day 4.

IF the particular donor requested only has IVF ready samples available we would
recommend ordering at least 2 vials, ideally 4— per attempt.

 

If you are doing IVF Donor Sperm must be in our lab BEFORE we can order the cycle
medication.

We recommend ordering 2 ICI samples for IVF Standard Insemination

We recommend ordering 1 ICI sample for IVF ICSI

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We do not accept delivery of sperm on weekends or holidays.

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Donor Sperm Banks
Seattle Sperm Bank
www.seattlespermbank.com phone 1-800-709-1223 fax 1-206-588-1485
California Cryobank
www.californiacryobank.com phone 1-866-927-9622
New England Cryogenics
www.necryogenics.com phone 1-800-991-4999

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Reporting Pregnancy
Sperm banks collect pregnancy and pregnancy outcome data on their donors. We urge
you to follow the pregnancy reporting directive for the sperm bank you choose.