Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do I get started?

A: Simply call Genome Resources' toll-free number, 877-325-5428 for a free phone consultation. You can also email us your questions at info@genomeresources.com, or visit www.genomeresources.com. We look forward to helping you preserve your future fertility.

Q: Do I have to be referred to Genome Resources by a physician?

A: No. There is no need to visit a physician or specialist prior to banking sperm with Genome Resources. Although we do recommend that you seek the advice of a professional, we understand that there are various reasons for banking your sperm and we want to provide you with quality service regardless of the reason for your visit.

Q: Why should I bank my sperm?

A: If you are about to undergo cancer treatment, radiation therapy, a vasectomy, or if you face a job hazard on a regular basis, you should strongly consider banking sperm. Those in the military and law enforcement should also consider sperm cryopreservation.

Q: How will I know if I have banked enough sperm?

A: The number of times you decide to bank sperm depends on your personal circumstances. The staff at Genome Resources will do our best to guide you through the sperm banking process, giving you as much information as possible so that you can make an informed decision. We always encourage our clients to seek counsel with their physician or a reproductive specialist for professional advice. If you are not currently working with a physician or reproductive specialist, Genome Resources can provide you with a list of clinics and physicians that fit your needs.

Q: What is sperm motility?

A: Sperm motility is a measure of the percentage of sperm that can move forward normally. In many cases, the higher your sperm's motility, the better its ability to fertilize an egg. However, sperm motility is only one factor attributed to your reproductive health, and your sperm's ability to fertilize an egg can be affected by a countless number of other characteristics.

More information: WedMD, updated 20 November 2007.

Q: Is there a minimum or maximum age for storing sperm?

A: No, Genome Resources does not maintain any age requirements for our clients. If you are a fertile male, storing your sperm is a viable option.

Q: How long can my sperm be stored?

A: With proper quality control and maintenance, your sperm can be stored indefinitely.

Q: Who will have access to my samples?

A: Only you, as the client, and/or the person you designate as the recipient of the sperm will have access to your sperm samples.

Q: What if I want to dispose of my sperm?

A: Contact us, and we will send you the appropriate paperwork and instructions. After you've completed the necessary paperwork and returned it to us, we will dispose of your specimens and send you a signed confirmation.

Q: What are the costs I can expect?

A: Genome Resources charges laboratory fees for the analysis, freezing, and preservation of your sperm. The first year of storage is included in this cost, and after your specimens have been stored for one year we will send you a storage renewal notice. Genome Resources offers discounts to military servicemen and law enforcement officers such as police and firemen, and we are also part of the Fertile Hope referral network. Genome Resources does not work directly with insurance companies, but if your insurance provider will cover some or all of the cost of sperm banking, we will work with you in order to obtain reimbursement. Please contact us for more details.

Q: If I've been diagnosed with cancer or an illness whose treatment may affect my fertility, should I bank sperm before treatment?

A: Yes, definitely. Chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments for cancer and related illnesses can cause temporary to permanent infertility, and in some cases the effects of these treatments are evident immediately. Banking your sperm prior to treatment can alleviate some of your worries surrounding your reproductive health.

Q: What is male infertility? What are some of the causes?

A: Male infertility means that your sperm count is lower than normal or that your body cannot produce healthy sperm and you may have problems conceiving a child naturally. Some causes of male infertility can be genetic, but infertility can also be caused by medical treatment, hormonal imbalance, illness, age, or your lifestyle choices. Your physician or a reproductive specialist can help you determine if you are infertile and what course of action to take.

Q: How do I know if I'm infertile? Are there any symptoms?

A: Most men do not know whether they are infertile unless their fertility is assessed by a semen analysis. A semen analysis will tell you about your overall sperm count, your sperm's motility, and other qualities that affect your reproductive health. Typically, there are no symptoms of infertility. Infertility usually is not discovered until a semen analysis is done and the sperm count or other factors appear abnormal.

Q: If my infertility is caused by a medical treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation, will the infertility be permanent?

A: Unfortunately, only time will tell if your reproductive health will fully recover after receiving a medical treatment for cancer or a similar illness. Some patients' fertility bounces back after a period of several months, or up to several years. Other patients' fertility may not return to normal levels, but this can only be determined on a case by case basis. Banking sperm prior to receiving any medical treatments or therapies that may affect your fertility is a safe and effective way to avoid these types of issues.

Q: What is a Client Depositor?

A: A Client Depositor is someone who is choosing to bank his semen for use with a sexually intimate partner (SIP).

Q: What is a Directed Donor?

A: A Directed Donor is someone who is choosing to bank his semen for use with someone other than an intimate partner. A Directed Donor may be someone chosen by the recipient, such as a close friend, but someone the recipient is not sexually intimate with.

Q: What testing is required for Client Depositors?

A: Client Depositors are required to get a HIV I/II, a Hepatitis B and a Hepatitis C test prior to the release of any vials in storage.

Q: What testing is required for Directed Donors?

A: Directed Donors are required to get a full infectious disease screening, a physical and if their background warrants, ethnic specific tests. All of these tests must be completed within seven (7) days or specimens will be held in quarantine for six (6) months and can then be released following the full infectious disease screen.

Q: What is a Known Donor?

A: A Known Donor is a term often used for a Directed Donor. Like a Directed Donor a Known Donor is a male who has agreed to have his semen banked who is known by the recipient but is not a sexually intimate partner. Known Donors are required to submit the same health history information and require the same testing as an anonymous donor. Genome Resources can accommodate Directed Donors (see above) but does not have an active Known Donor program.

Q: Can someone start as a Client Depositor and convert to a Directed Donor?

A: Yes. However, the testing requirements for a Directed Donor are different than the requirements for a Client Depositor (see above). The testing also has to be performed within a specified time period. We suggest that Client Depositors get all the testing that is required for a Directed Donor initially, so the Client Depositor can easily be converted to a Directed Donor. This is especially important if there is a chance that a Gestational Carrier may be used. If all the required testing was not completed for a Directed Donor, a Client Depositor could start the process over again as a Directed Donor.

Q: What is a Surrogate?

A: A Surrogate is a woman who agrees to carry a baby on behalf of someone else who donates both the egg and her uterus. Utilizing a surrogate to establish a pregnancy can involve placing the husband's sperm into the surrogate's uterus at the fertile time of the cycle (artificial insemination, AI) or creating an embryo from eggs retrieved from the surrogate in the lab (in vitro fertilization, IVF). The surrogate then conceives, carries the pregnancy to term, and delivers the infant.

Q: What is a Gestational Carrier?

A: A gestational carrier is similar to a surrogate but donates only her uterus to carry a pregnancy. A gestational carrier does not contribute her egg to the pregnancy.

Q: How long does the initial appointment take?

A: For any type of donor, the initial appointment takes between 45 minutes and 1 1/2 hours.

Q: What happens at the initial appointment?

A: At the initial appointment, you will fill out paperwork, ask questions, and leave the first specimen.

Q: Can the semen collection be done at home?

A: Certain collections can be performed at home. If collections are done at home and sent into our facility, there is an additional cost for kits and shipping.

At Genome Resources, we want to provide you with the latest technology and services to help you insure your reproductive future. Please call us for more information at 877-325-5428.