Family Forums are a Great Resource for Support and Discussion

Posted on October 28, 2013 by admin

Blog written by CLI Laboratory Director, Michelle Ottey, PhD.

Some women have reached out for support and community in online forums. Some Cryobanks offer chat rooms or forums for their clients and there are numerous online resources for DI (donor insemination) families. For example, our Cryobank offers a free online resource for support and discussion to our donor sperm recipients. These forums often have thousands of users and thousands of conversation threads. That may sound overwhelming, but generally is well organized into specific thread discussions that allow the user to easily navigate the site.

The specific threads cover a plethora of useful topics. Some examples are: single women starting the journey, same sex couples exploring home insemination, features that help choose a sperm donor, discussions on the types of fertility treatments used and who has had success, etc.

Some Cryobanks offer the option of joining a private donor forum. If you used a sperm donor and have a reported birth, you can join a private group that includes others who have used that donor. This allows people to connect half siblings.

We encourage our recipients to explore the forums for resources and discussions that may be helpful to them throughout their journey.

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Telling Your Child about Their Donor Origins

Posted on October 17, 2013 by admin

Blog written by CLI Laboratory Director, Michelle Ottey, PhD.

Are you planning to tell your donor conceived child about his/her origins?

This is a very personal matter and parents are responsible for making this choice. Situations vary and there is no one right answer for everyone. Increasingly more literature, both lay and medical, is being published to help assist families as they contemplate how best to address this issue with their son or daughter. There are also online resources; chat rooms, forums and support groups which may be helpful. But ultimately, this decision rests in the hands of the parent(s) to determine how best to deal with their child’s future desire to know they are donor conceived.

If a family does choose to disclose, you may also find it helpful to be in contact with other like-minded individuals who used donor insemination (DI) or a group of parents who used the same donor. As a child matures and becomes curious about his/her origins, they might gain important emotional support and biological connections by communicating with half siblings. There are online sites that cater to making these contacts and allow individuals to do so without revealing their identity. Several sperm banks offer forums as well to facilitate these connections. The advantage of using a forum from a sperm bank is that they can verify that only those that used the donor are actually in the private donor forums and some will post medical updates there as well. For those who are ready to meet face to face, these sites also offer the opportunity to plan meetings with each other. These online communities may not be for everyone, but it is important to know they exist.

If you want your child to have the option of having contact with the donor, you can choose an ID Option donor. This gives your child, with a birth registration, the option of contacting the donor when they are eighteen or older.

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News About Our CLI Donors

Posted on October 7, 2013 by admin

In 2002 Cryogenic Laboratories, Inc. (CLI) was acquired by the Genetics and IVF Institute, Inc. and became a sister company of Fairfax Cryobank. We are excited to announce that as of 5/1/13, we offer CLI donors on our Fairfax Cryobank website (www.fairfaxcryobank.com).

You will receive the same exceptional ordering experience and can now search additional donor selections by visiting our Fairfax Cryobank website. Fees for donor information on the Fairfax Cryobank donor search will apply.

Please note that both Fairfax Cryobank and Cryogenic Laboratories, Inc. donors will be available on the Fairfax website, but only CLI donors on the Cryogenic Laboratories, Inc. website during the transition.

For those of you who watch the numbers, you will see that we posted the semen total motile cells (TMC) by preparation type in out Terms of Use. Be assured the CLI ICI vials are still 18 TMC, one of the highest of any sperm bank.

It is important to mention that we have a central registry for pregnancy reporting along with a unified call center that will be able to help all patients with any and all inquires. Many of the CLI forms now include the name Fairfax Cryobank as well.

As the first sperm bank in the US, CLI continues its strong heritage of experience and service. We are proud to be based in Minnesota and serve clients in the Midwest as well as nationwide.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call. We welcome your feedback! 1-800-466-2796

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IVF over 35 years ago!

Posted on September 26, 2013 by admin

Louise Brown turned 35 years old this summer. She is known as the first successful IVF child born. Many people refer to her as the “test tube” baby. Here is an interesting article from Motherboard about her life to date.

There are many discussions about IVF on the CLI Family Forums. Come join the conversations!

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Do you feel like a pincushion?

Posted on September 16, 2013 by admin

Here is a light hearted blog from the NY Times Adventures in Parenting about the “fun” of preparing for IVF treatments.

Tell us about your IVF experience on the CLI Family ForumsCLI Blog small. Whether it is humorous or traumatic, you are not alone!

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What Can I Learn about Sperm Donors to Help Me Find the Right Donor for Me?

Posted on August 27, 2013 by admin

Blog written by CLI Laboratory Director, Michelle Ottey, PhD.

Information varies by sperm bank, but generally there is a lot of information out there.  You can learn a lot about the individual donors as well as their family.  The goal of the sperm banks is to provide you with information that will help you choose the right sperm donor for you and your family.

Many banks offer Donor Childhood Photos.  Photos of the donor are usually between 6 months and 6 years of age.   Some banks offer one photo other offer several photos.   Some Sperm Banks offer Adult or Lifetime Photos. Donors provide a series of photos from infancy through adulthood.  You may like a Donor Silhouette, a profile photograph of the donor that has been shaded to show only the line of his side profile. This is a great way to view the adult donor’s physical characteristics, yet keep him anonymous.

Some Sperm Banks offer Donor Audio Interviews that provide insightful information into the donor’s childhood, aspirations, accomplishments, values, family life, and personal interests in his own words.

Most Sperm Banks have Donor Summary Profiles that highlight the significant medical and genetic histories of the donor and his family.   There are also Donor Medical History Profiles; detailed background medical, family history information on the donor, his siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. They also include genetic disease testing the donor had done during the screening process. They give extensive medical history information including a list of medical conditions in relatives.   There are Donor Personal Profiles that share detailed personal information about the donor, his siblings, parents, and grandparents. Some of the donor’s personal information includes his interests and goals, academic scores, military record, specific facial features, and other details about family members.

Some Sperm Banks offer Personality Testing and you can also select to have the testing done on yourself and then compare your results to that of the donor.  Donors often provide essays that are a series of questions and answers that tell you a little more about our donors on a personal level.

Many people like donor staff impressions.  These are written by staff members who work directly with the donors on a daily basis.  Most are written, however a few have staff audio clips talking about the donor as well.

CLI Blog smallIf you need additional help finding your donor match, CLI has many options so you can pick your perfect donor.

 

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What is CMV?

Posted on August 6, 2013 by admin

Blog written by CLI Laboratory Director, Michelle Ottey, PhD.

Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is a member of the herpes virus family. Other examples of conditions related to herpes family viruses are chicken pox and cold sores. CMV is carried by many individuals, approximately 50-85% of American adults will test CMV positive, confirming exposure, typically childhood exposure and a mild infection similar to a typical cold. The immune system develops antibodies to fight the infection; the virus remains alive, but becomes dormant, hiding inside certain cells for the rest of the person’s lifetime.

The virus may reactivate in some individuals and be transmitted in bodily fluids, including semen. This is very common in people with immune suppression or individuals that have only recently been exposed to the virus. CMV can spread person to person through body fluids. If infected, an individual may never have any symptoms or they may develop symptoms such as mild flu-like illness, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue. The active infection typically resolves itself in a healthy person in one to two weeks.

If a woman is infected it is possible to transmit CMV to the fetus either through the placenta or through exposure to her infected cervical secretions during birth. Pregnant women who are infected for the first time during pregnancy usually recover completely with few or no symptoms. The unborn baby is at risk for congenital infection, and this occurs in approximately 1/3 of women who are infected during pregnancy. Congenital CMV is the most common congenital infection in the US. Twenty percent of babies born with an infection develop medical complications over the first few years of life. Those symptoms can include low birth weight, deafness, blindness, mental retardation, small head, seizures, jaundice, brittle teeth and damage to the liver and spleen. While a child may develop some of the above symptoms, no baby develops all the symptoms and some infants have no symptoms at all.

CLI Blog smallIf you are CMV negative you should choose a CMV negative sperm donor. You may use a CMV positive donor, but you should consult with your physician and discuss the possible risks. If you are CMV positive you can choose either a CMV negative or positive sperm donor. We test all sperm donors periodically for CMV Antibody.

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Can My Friend Be My Sperm Donor?

Posted on August 1, 2013 by admin

Blog written by CLI Laboratory Director, Michelle Ottey, Phd. 

Many women and couples consider asking a friend or relative to be their sperm donor. This is a possibility when there are fertility issues for the male partner or when there is no male partner involved in your family building experience.

Your friend or family member is what we call a Known or Directed Donor (DD). A DD is subject to the same screening and testing process that Sperm donors (anonymous and ID) are as regulated by the FDA. The goal of the FDA regulations is to prevent the spread of infectious disease. Because your DD is not your sexually intimate partner, they must go through an eligibility determination process. The DD will be required to submit a medical history, have a physical exam, and will have to have infectious disease testing completed. If you are a resident of NY State and will be having your procedure in a NY State Clinic, your DD will also be required to have relevant genetic testing done based on his ethnic background. You may choose to have genetic testing for your DD even if it is not required in your state.

Some states also require a 180 day quarantine period and re-screening before the sperm can be used for insemination. You should consult with your fertility specialist about this. Some states allow this quarantine to be waived and the samples can be used as soon as acceptable test results are received.

When entering this journey with a DD, it is very important to consult a lawyer to ensure that the plan is perfectly clear and the responsibilities of all parties involved are outlined. This is especially important in situations where the recipient parents plan to have the DD involved in the child’s life.

CLI Blog smallThis is a wonderful option for some families. If using a DD does not work out, you always have the option of using donor sperm from a sperm bank.

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A Great Step in a Long Journey

Posted on July 26, 2013 by admin

Blog written by CLI Laboratory Director, Michelle Ottey, PhD.

On Wednesday 6/26/13, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. What this means is that same sex couples who are married in a state that has marriage equality will now have federal recognition of their marriage. This is an incredibly important step in the journey to equality for the LGBTQ community and their families.

Because of this ruling, the children of these legally married parents will be protected in the event of the loss of one of their parents. The recognition of their family is also a wonderful affirmation of the relationships and their place as equal citizens and families in this country.

CLI Blog smallAs a Sperm Bank, we have served many lesbian couples who have built their families using Donor Sperm. This ruling is an inspiring move toward having all of those families recognized as equal. The Family Equality council has put together a great list of resources explaining the details of this decision. http://www.familyequality.org/

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What is it like for the Sperm Donor? (Part 2)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by admin

Written by CLI Laboratory Director, Michelle Ottey, PhD.

If their samples meet the high quality requirements, their medical history looks good, and they complete the extensive medical interview their information is reviewed by the Medical Director. Once approved the men have their physical and extensive disease testing. If everything comes back clear, they are accepted into the program.

The staff at the Cryobank gets to know the sperm donors very well over time. They see them weekly and discuss very personal information. The staff develops a relationship with them. They learn about their family, their classes or jobs, their relationships, their vacations and trips, what they are watching on TV or reading. Some of the sperm donors are very friendly and take some time at their appointments to chat with the staff before or after producing their specimen; for them it is easy and casual. Other sperm donors are a little private; they come in donate and head right out.

CLI Blog smallThe staff quickly learns how to make the sperm donor comfortable and establishes a dynamic with them. The goal of the sperm bank staff is to provide a safe, comfortable environment for the sperm donors.

 

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