How to Choose a Sperm Donor
1. Decide What Matters Most to You
Donor choice is a deeply personal decision. Some people prioritize physical resemblance — eye color, height, hair texture — while others focus on education, career background, personality, or shared ethnic heritage. There is no wrong way to decide.
Start by listing 3 to 5 characteristics that matter most to you. This becomes your filter when browsing donor profiles and keeps the search focused instead of overwhelming.
In our donor catalog, every profile includes a childhood photograph, staff impressions, medical history, and detailed genetic screening results. Many profiles also include an audio interview, a "Why I Became a Donor" statement, extended profile responses, and downloadable genetic documents — giving you the information you need to make a confident choice.
Common Factors to Consider
- Physical traits — height, eye color, hair color, build, skin tone
- Ethnic and racial background
- Education level and professional background
- Personality and interests (hobbies, values, favorite things)
- Audio interview or additional media — when available, hearing the donor in their own words or reviewing extra media can help the profile feel more personal.
- Staff impressions — a third-party perspective on the donor
Search Tools
Use filters or Premier Search to narrow the catalog faster
After creating a free account, you can search by name, donor number, or a profile keyword like "swimming", and filter by blood type, race, eye color, hair color, and video availability. If you want a faster starting point, Premier Search lets you describe your ideal donor in your own words and returns matching profiles.
I'm looking for someone tall with brown eyes, an athletic build, and a science background.
Refine the catalog once you know your must-haves.
Name, donor #, or keyword
Search
Blood Type
All
Race
All
Vial Type
ICI Available
Eye Color
Brown
Hair Color
Brown
Showing Available donors
Save favorites and compare donors side by side as your shortlist narrows.
2. Understand What's in a Donor Profile
We offer some of the most comprehensive donor profiles in the industry. Every profile is designed to help you make an informed, confident decision.
What You'll Find in Each Profile
- Photographs — A childhood photo is included with every profile; additional childhood and adult photos are available with Photo & Video Access.
- Audio interview — Hear the donor describe their personality, motivation, and interests in their own voice when available.
- Additional media — Some profiles also include a handwritten letter, and video is available for many donors with Photo & Video Access.
- Why I Became a Donor — The donor's own explanation of why they chose to donate.
- Physical characteristics — Height, weight, eye color, hair color and texture, build, and skin tone.
- Education and lifestyle — Education, areas of study, occupation, languages, exercise, diet, and other lifestyle details.
- Staff impressions — Notes from our team who meet each donor in person.
- Medical details — Blood type, overall health, and surgical history.
- Family history — Multi-generation family history, including parents, grandparents, siblings, and children information when applicable.
- Genetic screening results — Carrier screen of more than 500 genes plus findings from a certified genetic counselor.
- Genetic documents — The genetic carrier screening report, karyotype, and acknowledgement form when available.
- Extended profile responses — Hobbies, values, strengths, goals, favorite things, and childhood memories.
- Current vial options — Vial types, current availability, and pricing for the donor you are reviewing.
You can browse full donor profiles for free after creating an account, including a childhood photo, detailed profile information, and the audio interview where available. Additional childhood and adult photos and video clips are available with Photo & Video Access, $120 for 90 days, or complimentary for 30 days when you book a free consultation.
Use the comparison tool to view two or three donors side by side. Save favorites to your shortlist as you go so you can revisit them later without starting over.
If a donor's profile raises questions — about medical history, genetic results, or anything else — our Client Care team is available to walk you through it at no charge.
Tip: Don't aim for perfection. Many families find that once they hear a donor's audio interview, read their "Why I Became a Donor" response, or review the extended profile, one profile stands out. Trust that feeling — there is no single "right" choice, only the one that feels right for you.
3. Review Genetic Screening and Carrier Status
All of our donors undergo a carrier screen of more than 500 genes, followed by a consultation with a board-certified genetic counselor. Results are included in every donor profile.
Being a carrier means having one normal copy and one abnormal copy of a gene. Carriers are usually healthy and often have no family history of the condition they carry — in fact, we are all carriers of some gene abnormalities.
Most genetic conditions require two abnormal copies — one from the egg provider and one from the sperm provider. This is called autosomal recessive inheritance and is the most common type. If both providers are carriers of the same condition, there is a 25% chance the child will be affected.
How Carrier Matching Works
If both parents carry the same condition:
- 25% chance — child is unaffected
- 50% chance — child is a carrier (typically healthy)
- 25% chance — child is affected
If only one parent is a carrier, the child may inherit carrier status but is not at risk of being affected by the condition.
Your genetic counselor can compare your carrier screen to the donor's results and identify any overlapping conditions before you proceed.
This is why genetic compatibility matters. We, along with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), strongly recommend you seek genetic counseling to review your donor's screening results and determine whether additional testing is needed.
4. Choose Your Vial Type
The type of sperm vial you order depends on how and where insemination will happen. We offer vials containing 5 million and 10 million motile sperm in both ICI and IUI preparations.
Home Insemination (ICI)
Use unwashed ICI vials. Sperm is placed near the cervix at home.
For best results, perform two inseminations per cycle — the first within 12 hours of a positive LH surge and the second 24 hours later. Studies indicate higher pregnancy rates when sperm is introduced at least twice during the fertile window.
Clinic IUI
Use washed IUI vials. Sperm must be washed before intrauterine insemination to remove prostaglandins and avoid severe cramping.
Either 5 million or 10 million motile sperm vials can be used — check with your medical professional for their preferred protocol.
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.
For a detailed comparison, see ICI, IUI, or IVF: How to Decide and How Ovulation Timing Impacts ICI and IUI Outcomes.
5. Narrow It Down and Make Your Choice
Once you have reviewed profiles, checked genetic compatibility, and chosen your vial type, it is time to make a final decision. Here are practical strategies that help:
- Save favorites — Add donors to your shortlist as you browse. Revisit them later with fresh eyes.
- Use the comparison tool — View two or three donors side by side to spot differences that matter.
- Listen to audio interviews — Hearing a donor's voice often creates a personal connection that helps clarify your choice.
- Involve your partner — If you are making this decision with a partner, share the profiles and discuss what resonates for each of you.
- Trust your instinct — There is no single "perfect" donor. The right choice is the one that feels right for your family.
Plan for Future Siblings. If you think you may want biological siblings in the future, consider ordering extra vials now. Donor availability can change — reserving vials ensures you can use the same donor for future cycles.
Still Feeling Overwhelmed? This is completely normal. Our Client Care team offers free consultations to help you navigate profiles, talk through your priorities, and make a decision you feel good about. Book a free consultation.
What Makes Our Donors Different
- DNA-Verified — We are the first and only sperm bank that DNA-verifies every donor sample. Independent testing confirms each sample matches the donor profile with 99.999% accuracy — at no additional cost.
- 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.
- 25-Family Limit — Every donor is limited to a maximum of 25 families worldwide. All donors are Identity Disclosure, meaning your child can request identifying information about their donor when they turn 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep Reading
Related Guides
Donor Screening
Understanding Genetic Testing and Screening for Sperm Donors
Understand extended carrier screening, karyotype testing, genetic counseling, testing limitations, and how reputable sperm banks handle post-pregnancy genetic reports.
Treatment Planning
Home Insemination (ICI), IUI, or IVF with Donor Sperm: How to Decide
Compare the starting point, success rates, trade-offs, and best-fit scenarios for home ICI, clinic IUI, and IVF with donor sperm.
Cycle Timing
How Ovulation Timing Impacts ICI and IUI Outcomes
Understand the fertile window, LH surge timing, and why at-home ICI and clinic IUI are not scheduled the same way.
Ready to Find Your Donor?
Browse our DNA-verified donor catalog or talk to our Client Care team for personalized guidance — completely free.