Blog written by CLI Family Forum Moderator Desiree

Cytomegalovirus, commonly called CMV, is a member of the herpes virus family that includes chicken pox, cold sores, and infectious mononucleosis (mono). Most individuals are exposed to CMV in childhood and have a mild infection similar to a typical cold, while the immune system develops antibodies to fight the infection. The virus remains alive, but becomes dormant, or hides, inside certain cells for the rest of the person’s lifetime. Pregnant women who are infected for the first time during pregnancy usually recover completely with few or no symptoms. However, the unborn baby is at risk for congenital infection. Twenty percent of babies born with an infection develop medical complications over the first few years of life.

Many donors on the Cryogenic Laboratories catalog are CMV positive, because 50-85% of Americans have been exposed to the virus and therefore test positive. Some women on the forum discussion boards who have tested negative for CMV are frustrated by the lack of negative donors. Many have spent time searching for the perfect physical traits and personality characteristics, only to find out the donor has a positive CMV status. Although none of the vials sold by the cryobank have active infections of CMV, it is still a concern to women who are worried about having a healthy baby.

The CLI Family Forums have some interesting comments about this controversial topic. Some women have discussed this problem with their fertility specialist and were surprised to be given the green light on choosing a CMV positive donor. Some women have decided that the best donor features outweigh the minimal risk of contracting CMV. One user of the board joked light-heartedly on how she was grumpy she never contracted this mild disease prior. And one woman pointed out that you don’t get to test your partners in the field for CMV and people don’t seem too concerned about that. The CLI Family Forum discussion boards are a great way to find out more resources about common concerns that people utilizing donor sperm encounter.

Cryogenic Laboratories does highly recommend that women who are negative should use a CMV negative donor. However, the use of a CMV positive donor is allowed. While the risk is not zero, the chance of transmitting congenital CMV to a developing fetus from semen used at the time of conception is extremely low. This is, however, a medical issue that should be discussed with your physician prior to purchasing semen.