The Cost of Infertility: Sperm Donation

The cost of infertility treatments can add up quickly. Do you know what you are actually paying for? In this blog series, we’ll break down the costs associated with some alternative family building options so you can see exactly where your money is going. First, let’s take a look at sperm donation and where your money goes when using donor sperm.

When it comes to creating an embryo for in vitro fertilization, the two main ingredients are eggs and sperm. While sometimes these come from the genetic parents, they may also come from donors. Paying for a sperm donation can cost anywhere from $250 to $1000. Here's how that fee adds up:

• Compensating the donor. Sperm donors are often compensated and different sperm banks will pay different amounts to their donors.
• Clinic fees. You’ll have to pay the clinic that handles the sperm as well as your fertility clinic where the embryos are created (which will likely be two different locations).
• Sperm donation quality testing. Sperm will need to be tested for their viability and motility.
• Disease screening. You’ll want to make sure your sperm is disease-free.
• Demand for donor’s sperm. Some donors are going to be more in demand than others, based on their physical traits, intelligence, skills, etc. The more popular the donor, the more you’ll pay.
• Storage fees. The sperm will need to be kept in a carefully controlled environment until it’s ready to be used.
• Shipping. The sperm you choose will need to go from the storage facility to your fertility clinic, so you’ll need to pay for the shipping charges.

The cost of sperm donation can even be affected by other factors such as what fertility clinic you use and where you live.

Want to learn more about where your money goes when it comes to alternative family building methods? You can learn more – and discover other affordable methods – at EmbryoAdoption.org.

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