Premier Sperm Bank

Fertility Education

How to Choose a Sperm Donor

Build a shortlist that fits your family, understand the records behind each profile, and confirm the practical details before you order. Start with your treatment plan and personal priorities, then work through the five steps below.

Step 01 of 05

Start with what matters to your family

Choosing a donor is personal. You might feel drawn to a familiar smile, shared heritage, a donor’s interests or the way they describe themselves.

Write a short list of priorities before you browse. Keep it alongside the requirements from your clinician, so you can make room for both personal connection and practical needs.

  1. Your personal preferences

    Physical resemblance, heritage, education, interests and personality. Pick three to five things that matter most to your family.

  2. Your treatment requirements

    Keep your clinician’s requirements separate from personal preferences: screening review, vial preparation and delivery destination.

  3. Your family’s future

    Think about future siblings, the bank’s family limit and what Identity Disclosure means for your child later in life.

Step 02 of 05

Get to know the person behind the profile

Look at the medical records, the donor’s personal story and the vials available for your plan. Write down questions as you go; a profile does not need to answer everything for you to start a useful conversation.

Free account

Medical & family history

Read the donor’s health and surgical history, blood type and family history. Note anything you want your clinician to explain.

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Genetic reports

Review the carrier report covering more than 500 genes, genetic counselor findings and available supporting documents. Bring the actual reports to your clinical review.

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Personality & personal story

Read staff impressions, education and lifestyle details, extended responses and the donor’s motivation. Listen to the audio interview where available.

Free childhood photo · Additional media with access

Childhood photos, adult photos & video

A childhood photo is included with a free account. Photo & Video Access adds up to 15 additional childhood and adult photos per donor, plus donor videos where available. Media varies by donor.

Browse all donors

Step 03 of 05

Review screening with your clinician

Premier’s carrier screening covers more than 500 genes. Review the actual donor report with a genetic counselor, alongside the egg provider’s results. Panels can differ in what they test.

A carrier finding does not automatically rule out a donor. Ask about overlapping findings, further testing and the risk that remains after a negative screen. Screening cannot rule out every genetic condition.

Read our donor screening standards for an overview of Premier’s process, then use the individual donor’s reports for your clinical review.

Step 04 of 05

Match the vial to your treatment plan

Confirm the preparation, motile sperm count and quantity with your clinician or laboratory. Then check the current vial options on each shortlisted donor’s profile.

Home Insemination (ICI)

For a home insemination plan, review the available ICI preparations with your clinician and confirm that the donor is eligible for your shipping destination.

Agree on vial quantity and timing before ordering. Follow the supplied handling instructions and your clinician's plan.

Clinic IUI

Ask your clinic to confirm the required washed preparation and motile sperm count. IUI is performed by a medical professional.

Check that the clinic accepts the selected donor and vial before arranging delivery.

IVF or ICSI

Either ICI or IUI vials may be used depending on your lab's protocol.

Confirm your fertility clinic's exact requirements before ordering — labs differ in their preferences.

Step 05 of 05

Give your shortlist a final, thoughtful look

Return to the priorities you started with. Once you have reviewed the records and confirmed suitable vials, consider which donor feels like the best fit for your family.

You do not need to find a “perfect” profile. Take your time, revisit the donor’s story and make sure your unanswered questions have been addressed.

Talk it through with Client Care
  1. Save the profiles you want to revisit

    Sign in to save donors using the heart icon. Use View Favorites in the catalog to return to your saved donors.

  2. Compare your own notes

    Review two or three profiles using the same criteria: medical questions, personal preferences, media, suitable vials and cost.

  3. Talk through your decision

    Share your shortlist with a partner or someone you trust if that helps. Client Care can help you find information you are missing.

  4. Check future sibling options

    Ask about current stock and storage before deciding whether to buy additional vials. Availability and treatment outcomes are not guaranteed.

Your final check

Before you order

Use this list with each donor on your shortlist. Take the unanswered questions to your clinician or Client Care before purchasing.

Return to the donor catalog
  • Profile and records

    I have read the full profile and available medical and genetic documents, and noted any questions.

  • Clinical review

    My clinician or genetic counselor has addressed the screening findings and requirements relevant to my plan.

  • Vials and availability

    I have confirmed the donor, preparation, motile sperm count and quantity, including any state eligibility requirements.

  • Family planning

    I understand the family-limit and Identity Disclosure policies and have considered future sibling plans.

  • Cost and delivery

    I have checked the order total, shipping date, documents, storage and tank-return arrangements.

The Premier policies behind your choice

Sample identity

DNA fingerprinting checks that a sample matches the donor. It is included in the vial price and is separate from carrier screening.

How DNA verification works

Rigorous screening

Fewer than 2% of applicants qualify. Every donor passes medical, genetic, psychological and infectious disease screening plus a background check. Sperm is quarantined for six months before release.

Read the screening standards

25-family policy

The worldwide limit includes the donor's own family, leaving 24 recipient family slots. This is a limit on families, not children. All donors are Identity Disclosure; a donor-conceived person can request identifying information at 18.

Understand family limits and future contact

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start the process of choosing a sperm donor?

Start by browsing the donor catalog. Create a free account to read full profiles, medical histories and genetic screening results, view a childhood photo, and listen to audio interviews where available. Additional childhood and adult photos plus video are available through Photo & Video Access, $120 for 90 days. Use the catalog filters for race, ethnicity, eye color, hair color, blood type and available vial type. Review education, interests and other preferences in the full profiles.

Does blood type matter when choosing a sperm donor?

You can see blood type in donor profiles. Ask your clinician whether blood type, Rh status, CMV results or any other medical considerations affect your plan. A catalog filter is not a substitute for that review.

What does it mean if a donor is a genetic carrier?

A carrier result needs to be interpreted in context. A genetic counselor can compare the donor's report with the egg provider's results, explain any overlapping findings and discuss the risk that remains after screening. A negative screen does not rule out every genetic condition.

How many vials should I order?

The number depends on your treatment plan, expected attempts and whether you want to plan for future siblings. Confirm the preparation and quantity with your clinician, then ask Client Care about current stock, storage fees and available purchasing options.

What is the difference between ICI and IUI vials?

ICI vials contain unwashed sperm; IUI vials contain washed sperm. IUI is performed by a medical professional. Confirm the preparation, motile sperm count and quantity with your clinician or fertility laboratory before ordering.

What does DNA-verified mean?

Premier uses DNA fingerprinting to check sample-to-donor identity. This is separate from genetic carrier screening and from Identity Disclosure, which concerns access to identifying information later in life. DNA identity verification is not a guarantee of pregnancy or a child's health.

Can I get help choosing a donor?

Yes. Our Client Care team offers free consultations to help you navigate profiles, locate reports and discuss ordering options. Your clinician or genetic counselor should interpret screening results and confirm the vial requirements for your treatment plan.

Ready to Find Your Donor?

Browse our DNA-verified donor catalog or talk to our Client Care team for personalized guidance — completely free.