Known Sperm Donor Consults
The decision to be a known sperm donor and the decision to use a known donor for your family building can both bring up a lot of questions, logistics, and unknowns for everyone involved. Most often there are also some awkward-feeling but important conversations leading up to trying to conceive (TTC) with known donor! This might include sexual history questions, safer sex and STI testing agreements, sperm health and count, substance use, what legal agreements to pursue, and what to share (or not) with family members and/or mutual friends. Known sperm donors often wish they had a confidential and private space to ask questions, discuss sensitive personal or health information, receive support with their decision-making and clarifying needs, or find out what they can do to support healthy sperm production and optimize the chance of successful conception.
Known sperm donor consults
Consults with known sperm donors are focused on the health, questions, and wellbeing of the sperm donor and are generally a one-on-one private visit with just midwife and donor. The donor is welcome to include anyone they would like in the visit. The visit could include:
Recommendations for supporting healthy sperm production. I offer individualized support with nutrition, smoking/substance use cessation or reduction plans, and other potential factors that impact your sperm count and health.
When and why to get a semen analysis done. What does a semen analysis check on, where to get the testing done, and next steps and follow-up to consider once you have the results.
General health screenings to consider prior to or during the process of being a sperm donor.
STI information, risk discussion, and safer sex practices. What STI testing to consider accessing, risk of STI transmission for yourself and the potential intended parent(s), how to discuss safer sex practices with everyone impacted. With in-person visits I can offer most STI testing as part of our visit as well, and bill the lab costs to the your insurance (if you have it).
Emotional experience of being a known sperm donor. For some known donors, the process can bring up a range of emotions, and sometimes it can be challenging to find the right person in your life to talk with about it due to privacy needs or lack of similar shared experience.
Setting your needs and boundaries. How many cycles or months are you willing to commit to the conception process? Are you available for more than one donation per cycle? Are you willing to travel? What are your needs around sharing or not sharing your role as a sperm donor with any mutual friends and community? What type of agreements, both legal and personal, do you need to feel comfortable as a known sperm donor? What relationship/connection (if any) do you want with a potential child conceived with your sperm? Do you have or want to have your own child(ren) and how would that impact things?
Please note that all information discussed during known sperm donor consults ais private to the donor alone. I will not share any information provided during these confidential visits to the intended parent(s), nor will I share any private information from the intended parent(s) with the donor. I am available to facilitate these conversations if desired and requested by everyone involved, but my role will not involve communicating any information between intended parent(s) and donor, even if relevant to the fertility and conception process.
I am happy to provide known sperm donor consults via telehealth for those who are not in my travel radius or would prefer them to in-person care.
Fees
All initial known sperm donor consults are scheduled for a 1.5 hour visit unless the donor has already covered some significant topics such as STI testing and semen analysis with another provider. Typically a known donor consult is paid for by the intended parent(s), but that is a decision you all will discuss and agree on ahead of time. My fees for known sperm donor consults are:
Initial 1.5 hour visit: $200
Follow-up 60-minute visit: $125
Follow-up 30-minute visit: $75
As a starting point for our conversation about fees, please look over my payment and fees guidelines to learn more about my sliding scale and barter options.