For most Canadians, shopping for sperm means sourcing them south of the border.
Many Canadian fertility clinics work with large U.S. sperm banks, such as Xytex Cryo International in Atlanta, Fairfax Cryobank in Virginia, and the Seattle Sperm Bank, which offer online searches for donor characteristics such as eye or hair colour, ethnicity or blood type.
Some sperm banks also provide extended profiles, including donor essays, audio interviews, photos and staff impressions.
Health Canada lists only two sperm processors in Canada excluding Quebec, ReproMed Ltd. and CReATe Fertility Centre, both in Toronto.
The relative scarcity of sperm banks in Canada is due to the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004 which prohibits the sale of human reproductive material including sperm and eggs. The act decrees donations must be altruistic and not for financial gain, although donors could be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs related to their donations.
According to Dr. Beth Taylor, co-director of the Olive Fertility Centre in Vancouver, clinics refer patients to a list of recommended processors or distributors. Patients purchase samples directly from the banks then get them shipped to their fertility clinic. Samples must be screened in accordance to Canadian guidelines.
“They would go and look at online profiles listed on sperm banks in the U.S. and in Europe, and they would find Canadian-compliant donor sample units,” said Taylor. “That means the testing of the donor sperm has been approved by Health Canada and those units can be imported to Canada.”
Generally, banks test donors for infectious diseases, genetic conditions, and take a medical history, including a family history and a physical exam. Mental health conditions are usually self-reported, she said.
According to Xytex’s website, its donors undergo a battery of tests over a two-month period, including urine and blood samples, a four-generation medical history, lab screening, disease testing, and a physical exam. The company seeks out donors between 18 and 38 years of age, with a “good medical history” and a college degree or currently in a post-secondary program.
While they are in the program, donors are required to submit to infectious disease tests and a physical exam at least once every six months, as well as update their personal and family medical histories, say the website’s sperm donor screening page.
Near the bottom of the page, in italicized print, it says “it is important to note that the medical history provided by the donor is not validated by reviewing the donor’s or his family’s private medical records.”
