There are many reasons you may want to become a sperm donor, from making extra money to helping women who would  otherwise be unable to conceive. On the opposite end, you may also be interested in using a sperm bank to help you conceive for any number of reasons. If you’re wondering how sperm banks work for both recipients and donors, this article will help you out.

Continue on to find out more information about sperm banks, buying sperm, donating sperm, and the locations of U.S. sperm banks and their various recipient services and donor requirements.

What Are Sperm Banks?

Sperm banks are specialized facilities that collect and store human sperm, known as donor sperm. The sperm is used in artificial insemination procedures — an alternative fertilization method for women who either struggle to conceive traditionally or choose artificial insemination for a variety of reasons. Women who use sperm bank services to achieve pregnancy are typically referred to as recipients.

In addition to donor sperm, most sperm banks also provide sperm and egg banking services for men and women who are undergoing medical procedures that may affect their fertility or reproductive capacities, such as chemotherapy, vasectomy, or hysterectomy. They may also provide other services, including embryo and tissue preservation, genetic testing and fertility testing.

How Do Sperm Banks Work for Recipients?

Sperm banks collect and store sperm from carefully screened donors, which is then sold to women for use in artificial insemination procedures. The cost to purchase donor sperm from a sperm bank is usually per vial, and can range from $400 to $700 per vial depending on the types of artificial insemination that the sperm will be used for, and whether the donor is open (identified) or anonymous. Select sperm banks also offer ID disclosure donors, which are donors who have agreed to reveal their identity to any offspring once they turn 18. The costs for ID disclosure donor sperm are typically slightly higher than for open donors.

Sperm banks usually provide donor sperm for four different types of artificial insemination, listed below. For insemination procedures that require medical services, the process may be performed at the facility, or they may ship the donor sperm to a doctor’s office or clinic of the recipient’s choice. We contacted a number of sperm banks and spoke to customer service representatives to confirm this information.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

This procedure is also known as in vitro fertilization (IVF)

  • What is it: ART (IVF) procedures are performed at the facility, or in doctor’s offices or clinics. The process involves combining eggs and sperm in a laboratory dish, and then transferring the fertilized eggs to the uterus.
  • Per-vial cost for anonymous donor sperm: $300 to $500
  • Per-vial cost for open donor sperm: $400 to $600

Intracervical Insemination (ICI)

  • What is it: ICI is a non-invasive procedure performed at the facility, or at a doctor’s office or clinic that involves placing donor sperm into a woman’s cervix.
  • Per-vial cost for anonymous donor sperm: $400 to $800
  • Per-vial cost for open donor sperm: $500 to $900

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

  • What is it: The IUI process, performed at the facility, doctor’s office, or clinic, involves “washing” the donor sample (separating the sperm from the semen) and then placing the sperm directly into a woman’s uterus. This type has the highest success rate.
  • Per-vial cost for anonymous donor sperm: $300 to $800
  • Per-vial cost for open donor sperm: $600 to $900

Intravaginal Insemination (IVI)

  • What is it: IVI is also known as self-insertion and can be performed at home. This process involves using a syringe to inject sperm into the vaginal canal.
  • Per-vial cost for anonymous donor sperm: $300 to $400
  • Per-vial cost for open donor sperm: $300 to $500

A typical insemination resulting in pregnancy usually requires more than one vial of sperm. Donor sperm buyers will often select a donor, and then purchase sperm in bulk. Most sperm banks will buy back any unused sperm at a discount after a client has achieved pregnancy.

In addition to the cost of sperm, there may be other costs for sperm bank recipients. Most sperm banks charge additional fees for information about the donor beyond the basic profile and medical history, such as photographs, interviews, and personality profiles. There may also be storage fees for bulk sperm purchases, as well as delivery fees for having donor sperm delivered to either your home or a fertility clinic.

Due to the wide variety of options and the number of factors involved, the total costs of successful fertilization through a sperm bank can vary greatly, ranging from around $500 to $4,000 or more.

How Do Sperm Banks Work for Donors?

On the donor end, potential sperm donors must meet specific qualifications and go through a long screening process before they can make paid donations. The general qualifications for most sperm bank donors are:

  • Under 40 years old: The age limit for sperm donors is set by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), as seen in the AATB Standards for Tissue Banking
  • Hold a four-year or better college degree, or be enrolled in four-year program at the time of donation
  • Minimum height of 5’7” to 5’9” (height qualifications may vary at different sperm banks)
  • Cannot use tobacco products or drugs
  • Must be legally allowed to work in the U.S. and have clean personal and family histories
  • Have had exclusively female sexual partners
  • Willing to abstain from sex for 48 hours prior to each donation

The sperm donor screening process typically takes from one to three months, and involves extensive questionnaires and interviews, medical testing, blood tests, and preliminary sperm analysis. Sperm donors are required to have a higher than average sperm count and good sperm motility (a measure of how well the sperm swims).

Once a donor has passed the screening process, he is typically expected to donate sperm from one to three times per week, for an arrangement period of six to 12 months.

For more information on sperm banks and donating sperm, see our article on Sperm Donor Pay.

Sperm Bank Locations (With Donor and Recipient Information)

Wondering where you can go to buy sperm or become a sperm donor? Here’s the list of sperm bank locations in the U.S., along with the services offered for recipients, donor qualifying information, and pay rates. We verified this information through websites or by contacting customer service representatives.

1. California Cryobank

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Basic profile, medical history, genetic test summary, donor personal essay, staff impressions
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Extended profile, childhood photos, facial features report, donor conversation, Kiersey Personality Profile, and more
    • Donor identities available: Open, anonymous, and ID disclosure
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Donor matching, genetic services, family planning, genetic storage, and more
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 19 to 38
    • Height requirement: Minimum 5’9”
    • Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree or currently enrolled in a four-year college
    • Minimum time commitment: Nine months and one donation per week (more are encouraged)
    • Donor payment: Up to $1,500 monthly
    • How to apply as a donor: Fill out the California Cryobank Sperm Donor Application online to get started
  • Facility locations: Los Angeles, CA
  • Visit the California Cryobank website

2. CryoGam Colorado

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Basic profile, medical history
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Long profile
    • Donor identities available: Anonymous
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Long-term genetic storage
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 18 to 35
    • Height requirement: Minimum 5’6”
    • Education requirement: Currently enrolled in college or college graduate
    • Minimum time commitment: Six months and one donation per week
    • Donor payment: Varies according to several factors
    • How to apply as a donor: Complete the online Donor Pre-Screening Questionnaire to get started
  • Facility locations: Loveland, CO; Denver, CO; Boulder, CO
  • Visit the CryoGam Colorado website

3. Cryos USA

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Basic profile
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Extended profile
    • Donor identities available: Open, anonymous
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Egg donation, fertility preservation
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 18 to 44
    • Height requirement: Minimum 5’7” for most donors (5’4” for donors of Hispanic or Asian descent)
    • Education requirement: College student, college-educated professional, or in a successful long-term career
    • Minimum time commitment: 90 days and one donation per week
    • Donor payment: Payment amounts vary depending on sperm quality, volume, and bonus amounts for in-demand donors
    • How to apply as a donor: Fill out the Online Sperm Donor Application to get started
  • Facility locations: Orlando, FL
  • Visit the Cryos USA website

4. Fairfax Cryobank

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Basic profile, medical history, donor silhouette
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Childhood photos, lifetime photos, audio interview, donor essay, staff impressions, Kiersey Personality Profile, photo matching
    • Donor identities available: Anonymous, ID disclosure
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Donor selection consultation, genetic counseling, donor re-activation service, and more
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 18 to 39
    • Height requirement: Minimum 5’6”
    • Education requirement: College educated
    • Minimum time commitment: Six months and one donation per week
    • Donor payment: Average donor compensation is around $4,000 in a six-month period
    • How to apply as a donor: Fill out the online Sperm Donor Application to get started
  • Facility locations: Fairfax, VA; Austin, TX; Houston, TX; Philadelphia, PA; Roseville, MN; San Francisco, CA; Pasadena, CA
  • Visit the Fairfax Cryobank website

5. Manhattan Cryobank

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Short profile, donor attributes, staff impressions, donor inventory levels
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Extended profile, baby photo, audio interview
    • Donor identities available: Anonymous, ID disclosure
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Egg and embryo storage, transportation services
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 18 to 39
    • Height requirement: Minimum 5’7”
    • Education requirement: Currently attending college or college graduate
    • Minimum time commitment: Six months and one to two donations per week
    • Donor payment: $80 per specimen for anonymous donations; $110 per specimen for ID disclosure donations
    • How to apply as a donor: Click on Become a Donor on Manhattan Cryobank’s website to get started
  • Facility locations: New York, NY
  • Visit the Manhattan Cryobank website

6. New England Cryogenic Center

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Short donor profile, medical history
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Long donor profile, childhood photos
    • Donor identities available: Anonymous, ID disclosure
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Specimen storage
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 18 to 38
    • Height requirement: Minimum 5’6”
    • Education requirement: College student or graduate, technical or trade school graduate, or military
    • Minimum time commitment: 12 months and one donation per week. Months do not have to be consecutive.
    • Donor payment: $125 per specimen
    • How to apply as a donor: Download the PDF application from the Donor Application page and mail it to the address provided to get started
  • Facility locations: Brookline, MA
  • Visit the New England Cryogenic Center website

7. NW Cryobank

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Basic profile, physical characteristics, family longevity report, photo matching (single photo)
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Additional photo matching, expanded profile
    • Donor identities available: Anonymous, ID disclosure
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Egg donation, storage services
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 18 to 35
    • Height requirement: Minimum 5’10”
    • Education requirement: Enrolled in or graduated from college, vocational, or technical school
    • Minimum time commitment: 6 months and 2 to 3 donations per week
    • Donor payment: Up to $1,000 per month
    • How to apply as a donor: Fill out the online donor screening form to get started
  • Facility locations: Spokane, WA; Pullman, WA; Missoula, MT
  • Visit the NW Cryobank website

8. Pacific Reproductive Services

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Basic profile, medical history, genetic test results
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Long profile, baby photos, adult photos, audio interview, full-face video interview, photo matching
    • Donor identities available: Anonymous, ID disclosure
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Fertility testing and treatment
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 19 to 36
    • Height requirement: Minimum 5’8”
    • Education requirement: College students, graduates, police officer, firefighter, or EMT candidates preferred
    • Minimum time commitment: Nine months and one donation per week
    • Donor payment: $100 per specimen, plus $300 signing bonus and $200 completion bonus
    • How to apply as a donor: Complete the online Donor Initial Application form to get started
  • Facility locations: San Francisco, CA; Pasadena, CA
  • Visit the Pacific Reproductive Services website

9. Phoenix Sperm Bank

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Short profile, medical history, genetic test results, photo matching
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Extended profile, baby photos, audio interview, Kiersey Personality Profile
    • Donor identities available: Anonymous, open
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Pregnancy and birth reporting, advanced genetic matching, and more
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 18 to 39
    • Height requirement: None
    • Education requirement: None
    • Minimum time commitment: One year, with donations permitted up to three times per week.
    • Donor payment: $50 to $70 per sample depending on sperm count; up to $1,000 per month
    • How to apply as a donor: Fill out the Online Donor Application form to get started
  • Facility locations: Tempe, AZ
  • Visit the Phoenix Sperm Bank website

10. Seattle Sperm Bank

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Short profile, medical history, genetic test results, photo matching
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Extended profile, baby photos, audio interview, Kiersey Personality Profile
    • Donor identities available: Anonymous, open
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Pregnancy and birth reporting, advanced genetic matching, and more
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 18 to 40
    • Height requirement: None
    • Education requirement: None
    • Minimum time commitment: One year, with donations permitted up to three times per week.
    • Donor payment: $50 to $70 per sample depending on sperm count; up to $1,000 per month
    • How to apply as a donor: Fill out the Online Donor Application to get started
  • Facility locations: Seattle, WA
  • Visit the Seattle Sperm Bank website

11. The Sperm Bank of California

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Basic profile, medical history, personal narrative, staff evaluation
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Extended profile, childhood photos
    • Donor identities available: Open, ID disclosure
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Storage, semen analysis, genetic consultation
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 20 to 39
    • Height requirement: Minimum 5’7”
    • Education requirement: Enrolled in or graduated from college
    • Minimum time commitment: Six months and one donation per week
    • Donor payment: $125 per sample; additional $100 for submitting a childhood photo; additional $500 for completing an exit blood test
    • How to apply as a donor: Start by filling out the pre-qualifying online application
  • Facility locations: Berkeley, CA
  • Visit The Sperm Bank of California website or view their website for donors

12. Xytex

  • Services for recipients:
    • Donor information provided: Basic profile, medical history, genetic screening
    • Donor information available for additional fees: Childhood photo, adult photo, Kiersey Personality Profile
    • Donor identities available: Anonymous, ID disclosure
    • Other fee-based services for recipients: Genetic material storage
  • Donor qualifications:
    • Age requirement: 18 to 38
    • Height requirement: None
    • Education requirement: Enrolled in or graduated from college
    • Minimum time commitment: One year and one donation per week
    • Donor payment: Not disclosed
    • How to apply as a donor: Fill out the online Medical History Questionnaire to get started
  • Facility locations: Augusta, GA; Atlanta, GA; New Brunswick, NJ
  • Visit the Xytex website

In Summary

Whether you’re a recipient or a donor, sperm banks offer a variety of services and programs that help women achieve their pregnancy goals and allow men to make a difference in other people’s lives while earning extra money.

Suggested article if you’re looking to make more short-term money but definitely less long-term money: How to Donate a Testicle for Money


This Season