Seattle Sperm Bank is your trusted partner and resource when it comes to donor sperm. We are here every step of the way as your journey into parenthood. Explore our blog for topics from preconception to conception with donor sperm.
We Tried It! At-Home Tests for Tracking Fertility
When trying to conceive (or TTC), there can be an overwhelming amount of information to take in. A great place to start is to better understand your best days for conceiving with ovulation predictor kits (OPK). And pregnancy tests are also great to have on hand! OPKs work by testing amounts of luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, or a combination of both. Both hormones fluctuate during the month and an increase is an indicator of pending ovulation. Pregnancy tests look for human chorionic...
Tips for Tracking Ovulation
When trying to conceive, understanding your ovulation cycle can be an important first step. Unless you have a known infertility issue, this awareness can help increase your chance of getting pregnant in less time. Whatever method you use to track your fertility, each is designed to tell you the days when you’re most fertile, and therefore, the best days to attempt insemination. This is known as your “fertility window,” which includes the five days leading up to ovulation, when you have the...
Fertility Questions to Ask Your Gynecologist
Whether you are currently trying to conceive, or pregnancy is part of your long-term plan, there are many good reasons to talk about fertility with your gynecologist or health care provider. If this sparks some anxiety, you’re not alone. Many women are reluctant to talk about certain sensitive issues with a doctor. But having this conversation can be an important part of a healthy pregnancy. If you do decide to make an appointment, we suggest you mention it ahead of time so your care provider...
Do Fertility Treatments Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer?
The results of a recently released meta-analysis found no links between fertility treatments and breast cancer. These findings were published online in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility on June 21, 2021. A meta-analysis is a type of study that combines and analyzes the results of various earlier studies. In this case, the researchers reviewed 20 studies focused on whether drugs that stimulate the ovaries to release eggs also increased the risk of breast cancer. The patients studied...
Why are Donor Samples Held in Quarantine for Six Months?
Our sperm donors are well screened and tested for infectious diseases before entering our program and continue to be tested on a regular basis while actively donating. Specifically, we are screening donors for Zika, hepatitis B/C, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, HTLV I/II, and West Nile virus, among other diseases. In addition, we perform overall health screenings on donors that include physicals, complete blood counts, and metabolic panels. With so many precautions in place to ensure we...
Using a Sperm Donor You Know: Comparing Directed Donors, Known Donors, and Personal Sperm Storage
Along with providing anonymous donor sperm to individuals looking to conceive a child, Seattle Sperm Bank also provides personal storage of donor sperm for directed donors, known donors, and those storing sperm for personal use in the future by a sexually intimate partner. Here is a comparison of each of these donor types. A directed donor is an individual who stores sperm for a chosen recipient who is a friend, acquaintance, or surrogate, but not a sexually intimate partner. We encourage...
How Common Cleaning Products Can Affect Fertility
We use so many cleansers and similar products around the home it can be easy to overlook their potential negative effects. While many of them contain chemicals that won’t cause harm at low levels of exposure, there are some everyday products that may damage your fertility. These are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and include such widely used compounds as Bisphenol A, phthalates, and parabens. Research shows EDCs can affect both male and female reproductive health, which can...
Should I Look for Sperm on Social Media?
Numerous articles, such as a recent piece from BBC News, have been written about women and couples who used social media such as Facebook to purchase donor sperm to have a child. This has led to questions about the safety and effectiveness of this method. Are There Risks To Buying Sperm From Donors On Social Media? From the perspective of Seattle Sperm Bank and other licensed fertility clinics, there are multiple risks involved with looking for donor sperm using social media. These include: ...
Documentary Explores the World of Donor-Conceived Siblings
For families that include donor-conceived children, even minor events like National Siblings Day or building a family tree for a class project can feel different. But things are starting to change. In recent years, an increasing number of books, movies, and shows have explored the multidimensional and complicated aspects of donor-conceived sibling relationships and non-traditional family building. One recent example is the documentary, Future People: The Family of Donor 5114, which is...
SSB Opens New Sperm Bank in Bellevue, WA
Seattle Sperm Bank will open a new lab in Bellevue, WA, in early April 2021. This added location will allow us to better serve our clients looking to start or add to their families by meeting the growing demand for donor sperm. SSB, one of the leading fertility clinics in the U.S., also operates sperm donor labs in Phoenix and San Diego. Since 2008, SSB has provided the highest quality, affordable open identity donor vials to clients across the country, backed by exceptional customer service...
