Storage:  Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a Client Depositor?
  
   

  A "Client Depositor" is a term used to differentiate clients of sperm banks between donors and depositors. A Client Depositor is an individual who is banking sperm for future inseminations of a sexually intimate partner. A sexually intimate partner can be a wife or a long-term girlfriend.

• Can my specimens, as a Client Depositor, be used for a non-sexually intimate partner?
  
   

  Yes, but there are restrictions. A Client Depositor's specimens can only be used for the artificial insemination of a non-sexually intimate partner, if the appropriate FDA screening panel was performed. Additionally, Client Depositors are required to complete a Medical History Questionnaire and meet with the Cryos NY Medical Director for an interview.

  The FDA screening panel needs to be performed within seven days of depositing sperm. You may find a list of the tests as well as the prices by visiting our Price List. With regards to the interview with the Cryos NY Medical Director, a fee of $200.00 will be assessed.

  Specimens of Client Depositors used for non-sexually intimate partners are required to enter into a 6-month quarantine process. Under certain circumstances, the 6-month quarantine process may be waived by the recipient. Please contact a Cryos NY associate to discuss.

• What documents do I need to complete to bank sperm?
  
   

  In order to bank sperm, there are specific documents that need to be completed prior to depositing specimens. Cryos NY will need the following documents completed: Client Depositor Storage Agreement and Doctor's Requisition. Below are the definitions of these documents:

  1. Client Depositor Storage Agreement: This is the standard agreement between Client Depositors (individuals banking sperm) and Cryos NY.
     
     
  2. Doctor's Requisition: A Doctor's Requisition is simply a doctor's note on a his/her prescription pad. This Requisition is to state that the doctor recommends that you are to bank sperm for a specific reason. This requisition is to be faxed to the Cryos NY office.

   

  A copy of the Client Depositor Storage Agreement can be accessed by clicking the following link:  Client Depositor Storage Agreement.

  All documents can be faxed to (917) 210-3464 or mailed to Cryos NY at 90 Maiden Lane, Suite 302, New York, NY 10038.

• What can my specimens be used for?
  
   

  As a Client Depositor your specimens can only be used for the artificial insemination of a sexually intimate partner. A sexually intimate partner can either be a spouse or a long-time girlfriend.

  For example, if there is a couple (heterosexual or gay) that would like to use your specimens for an artificial insemination, Cryos NY will be unable to release the specimens. The reason for this is that Client Depositors most likely reject the FDA screening panel which includes extensive blood tests to determine the results of communicable diseases and/or genetic disorders. Specimens not to be used for the artificial insemination of a sexually intimate partner cannot be released without the necessary FDA screening panel.

  If you are interested in obtaining the necessary FDA screening panel, please visit our donor screening section of our website by clicking here. If a Client Depositor decides to have the FDA screening panel performed, the client depositor will be charged for the tests. Please follow this link for the costs of the FDA screening panel: FDA Screening Panel

• What are the specimens that Cryos NY produces?
  
   

  Cryos NY produces two types of specimens: 1) ICI-Unwashed, and 2) IUI-Ready.

  An ICI-Unwashed specimen is basically "raw semen" and can only be used for intracervical insemination (ICI) as it contains prostaglandins and bacteria. An ICI procedure is the deposit of the semen vaginally. This form of insemination represents the more natural manner of intercourse. This type of procedure can be performed at home. However, ICI-Unwashed specimens can be washed in the future to create IUI-Ready specimens for use in IUI or IVF treatments.

  An IUI-Ready specimen has been treated by a gradient centrifugation method where the prostaglandins and bacteria have been removed from the specimen. This type of specimen can be used for intrauterine inseminations (IUI) or IVF.

• Do I want ICI or IUI specimens?
  
   

  This depends on what type of procedures you would like your partner to have in the future.

  As a rule of thumb, Cryos NY advises its client depositors to have ICI specimens produced because of two reasons: 1) Its a cheaper cost to you to have ICI specimens produced, and 2) You may be able to have more straws produced.

  The more specimens you are able to produce the better. On average, it takes about 3 to 4 inseminations to achieve a successful pregnancy using less than 1.0 mL of semen. Cryos NY packages its specimens in 0.5 mL straws. Therefore, on average, it will take about 6-8 straws to achieve a successful pregnancy. If you are at risk of becoming infertile, Cryos NY suggests depositing 2-3 times to get a healthy level of straws.  

• What is motile sperm?
  
   

  In every ejaculate, there will be living and dead sperm cells. Among the living sperm cells, you will have sperm that swim in linear or non-linear forward progression and then sperm that swim in non-forward progression. The sperm that swim in linear and non-linear forward progression are the sperm that have the highest probability of fertilizing an egg. This type of sperm is called "Motile Sperm".

   

• What are the various types of artificial inseminations?
  
   

  There are three (3) major types of artificial inseminations: 1) Intracervical Insemination, 2) Intrauterine Insemination, and 3) IVF (In-Vitro).

  Intracervical Insemination (ICI)
  An intracervical insemination is the deposit of semen vaginally. This type of procedure represents the natural manner of intercourse. Additionally, this type of procedure requires specimens with a motile sperm count of approximately 20 million or greater.

  Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
  An intrauterine insemination is the deposit of semen higher up in the uterus. This type of insemination offers a higher probability of achieving a successful pregnancy than ICI treatments. Fertilty Doctors and Specialists like to see a motile sperm count of between 10 million and 20 million per insemination.

  IVF (In-Vitro)
  IVF is the process of creating embryos by either injecting a motile sperm directly into the egg or placing motile sperm adjacent to the egg to increase the chances of fertilization. This process does not require a high motile count of sperm. Fertility Doctors and Specialists like to see a minimum motile sperm count of at least 1 million per straw.