Donor insemination (DI) is a form of third-party conception that involves the use of cryobanked (frozen through cryopreservation) donor sperm to achieve pregnancy. DI is most commonly used by heterosexual couples where the male partner has fertility issues, by single women and by lesbian couples.

Donor sperm can be obtained through a self-recruited known donor or an anonymous donor from a sperm bank. Currently, we do not provide known sperm donation DI service at the Centre for Fertility and Reproductive Health.

DI is a relatively safe procedure. All donor sperm are cryopreserved and must be quarantined for six months before the samples can be used. All donors are psychologically screened, and must undergo rigorous medical evaluation and repeated blood tests to screen for sexually transmitted and infectious diseases.
 

Donor Sperm Banks

Information on sperm donors and sperm donor catalogues are available on most Sperm Bank websites. More detailed medical and personal profiles of sperm donors can be ordered for an additional fee.

Our team social worker guides patients through the selection process and helps them determine what criteria are important to them.

Patients are required to contact the sperm bank directly to order the sperm samples and arrange for its delivery to the clinic prior to intrauterine insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

The following three sperm banks are compliant with Health Canada’s screening requirements:

• Outreach Health Services is a Canadian distributor for Xytex (www.xytex.com) (US-based) and the European Sperm Bank. Please visit www.creatingcanadianfamilies.ca to download the donor catalogues. Call 1-866-785-4709 to place an order.
• Can-Am Cryoservices Corporation is the Canadian distributor FairFax and Cryogenic (US-based). Please visit www.canamcryo.com to download the donor catalogue. Call 905-524-3342 or 1-888-245-3471 to place an order.
• ReproMed Ltd. is a Toronto-based sperm bank and a Canadian distributer for Xytex (www.xytex.com). Visit www.repromed.ca to download the donor catalogue. Call 416-233-8111 or 1-877-317-6079 for to place an order.