Blog written by Laboratory Staff JM
Sperm donors are typically a candid bunch of guys. Our lab staff interacts with the donors on a weekly basis, and we enjoy getting to know these men and why they have chosen to participate in a sperm donor program. While it’s true that the compensation factors into the decision for some donors, many donors really don’t care all that much about the financial reward and are more driven by a desire to help others. How do sperm donors feel about the contribution they make? Let me tell you some of the things I’ve been told by these really nice guys.
1. Sperm donors hope that the recipients of their samples are successful in their quest to have a family.
2. Sperm donors are compassionate and caring – an example: every so often we get a request to test one of our former donors for carrier status for a genetic disorder, by patient request. In my experience, the donors make every effort to come in for the testing. They usually say something like “I hope we get good news” or “Is the baby okay?”
3. We often ask them about their moms around the holidays (Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc). You can learn a lot about someone by the way he speaks about his mother. It’s touching to hear some of these men share their favorite memories about their moms, or hear that they are planning something special for their mom for a holiday surprise.
4. Some of our donors already have children of their own, and these donors in particular can appreciate the contribution they are making, because they know firsthand the joy of being a parent.
Learning what motivates a man to be a sperm donor is truly one of the most interesting aspects of working at a sperm bank. The decision to donate sperm is not one made lightly, and the reasons for doing so can vary. It is an honor to work in a field where you can see not only the impact the donors have on recipients, but also the impact being a donor has on the amazing guys who choose to donate sperm.
