Patient Section

answers to sperm donor bank questions

THE BASICS

Why would I prefer Xytex rather than another reproductive tissue bank?

What is a Xytex?

What qualifies Xytex to be a gamete provider?

What accreditation or licenses does Xytex have?

How do you ensure my confidentiality as a Xytex user?

How do I get started in selecting a semen donor?

What should I do before I call to place an order?

Where is Xytex Corporation located?

GETTING TO KNOW XYTEX DONORS

What kind of men are Xytex donors?

Are Xytex donors altruistic?

Are Xytex donors anonymous?

Exactly what is the “Identity Disclosure” program at Xytex?

What information is available on Xytex donors?

How does the Xytex “Basic Profile” differ from the “Enhanced Profile”?

How often does Xytex update its donor list on the Web?

Do you offer live audio interviews with the donors?

Does Xytex offer baby and/or adult photos of donors?

I want a donor that physically resembles my partner, but I do not want donor photos; how can Xytex help me?

Other sperm banks offer “premium” donors (for a higher fee); why doesn’t Xytex offer this option?

How important is choosing a donor with a specified blood type?

What can Xytex tell me about the interaction of the donor’s genes with those I’ve gotten from my parents?

How does Xytex limit the possibility that two children unknowingly from the same donor will together become parents?

Will Xytex tell me whether a donor has enabled recipients to become pregnant?

If a donor has no reported pregnancies is that necessarily a bad sign?

What is a donor sibling registry and why doesn’t Xytex have one?

DONOR EVALUATION AND SEMEN EFFECTIVENESS

How does a man qualify to be a sperm donor for Xytex?

What is the acceptance rate of men into the Xytex program?

How often do you check donors for diseases? How long do you keep their records? What does Xytex do if it learns something important about my donor after I am inseminated?

What diseases does Xytex check a donor for?

When checking a donor for transmissible diseases, what is the difference between screening and testing?

What about diseases such as alcoholism, asthma, bipolar disorder, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis, psoriasis, stroke and all the others?

Should I be concerned about having an allergic reaction to cryopreserved sperm?

Why freeze sperm?

What is the purpose of the quarantine period and how long does it last?

Does “freezing” reduce the fertility of sperm?

Does thawed semen cause more birth defects than normal?

How long can human sperm survive cryopreservation?

ORDERING AND INSEMINATION

How can I be certain that Xytex will have sperm available from my favorite donor?

How much sperm should be ordered?

Are there other technical issues?

What is the difference between “washed” and “unwashed” samples? Are some cleaner than others?

What comes in a shipment?

How do I place an order?

What types of shipping arrangements are available?

Can I perform the insemination at home or can this only be done at the clinic?

I am interested in having and additional child with a retired donor; what steps do I take?

What methods of payment do you accept?

Do you offer a payment plan?

If my doctor has semen I have purchased and do not need, will Xytex give me a refund if it is returned?

If during insemination my M.D. feels the specimen is of poor quality; what do I do?

How will Xytex handle a complaint of poor quality?

How do I report a birth?

THE BASICS

Q. Why would I prefer Xytex rather than another reproductive tissue bank?

A. Foremost, Xytex is about people and creating families. Xytex people want Xytex users to have the best possible match with a Xytex donor. Xytex has a large variety of donors and lots of information to share with you about each one. Xytex is also steeped in medical heritage with a strong clinical component. A donor is released from inventory for your use only with physician review and approval of technical specifications; it is similar to obtaining a prescription drug.

Q. What is a Xytex?

A. Xytex is a made-up name to connote gamete services for health care professionals and their patients. Gamete is the technical term for both the female and male reproductive cells, ova or eggs and sperm. Xytex is much more than a sperm bank.  Its primary job is to find persons qualified to be medically suitable gamete donors. The process of qualifying a donor is very intense and arduous, generating a lot of medical, psychological, genetic and social information about donors and their families. It is Xytex's job to share this information with patients and their medical specialists so that the best possible match is made between donor and recipient.

Q. What qualifies Xytex to be a gamete provider?

A. Xytex is an international organization of health care professionals dedicated to helping physicians and their patients find a donor suitable to the needs of individual patients. Being international, Xytex has access to the world's best medical authorities and has selected a few of these to form the Xytex Medical Advisory Board. Xytex is sensitive to cultural and ethical issues of patients and has a diverse group of donors.

Xytex began providing male gametes in 1975 from Augusta, Georgia. This service originated from clinical research at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, one of the world's premiere academic centers for reproductive medicine.

Q. What accreditation or licenses does Xytex have?

A. Xytex Corporation, which was established from research conducted at the Medical College of Georgia in 1975, currently holds the following Licenses and Registrations:

California Tissue Bank License CNC 80397
Georgia Tissue Bank License 121-011(Augusta)
Georgia Tissue Bank License 060-113 (Atlanta)
Maryland Tissue Bank License TB 704
New York State Tissue Bank License GA 026 (Augusta)
New York State Tissue Bank License GA048 (Atlanta)
CLIA Laboratory License 11D0262959 (Augusta)
CLIA Laboratory License 11L0008050 (Atlanta)
FDA Tissue Bank Registration 1000501743 (Augusta)
FDA Tissue Bank Registration 3003420280 (Atlanta)

Xytex is also regulated by the governments of Switzerland and the United Kingdom (HFEA), as well as Health Canada, a federal governing board of Canada.

Xytex International Ltd. and its subsidiaries, Xytex Corporation and Xytex Tissue Storage Inc., have achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification (International Organization for Standardization), becoming one of only 1,200 companies in the United States to be certified in 2005.  A world-recognized set of quality management standards, ISO’s purpose is to facilitate international trade by providing a single set of recognized and agreed upon standards that people everywhere understand and respect. ISO 9001:2000 is a quality system that enables companies to evaluate operational effectiveness, increase efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction as well as identify areas for improvement.  With auditing and monitoring criteria in place, the company focuses on continuous improvement methodologies to enhance the program.

Q. How do you ensure my confidentiality as a Xytex user?

A. Reproduction is a very personal matter and we respect your desire for privacy. The information you share with us is held in strictest confidence, unavailable to anyone other than your health care professionals without your express permission. Your information will not be shared or sold to any other company or institution. Likewise, Xytex respects donor privacy and releases information about the donors only with the donor's permission.  Encryption of your financial information is provided through Authorize.net. 

Q. How do I get started in selecting a semen donor?

A. Xytex Corporation suggests that you start by selecting a health care professional to perform your insemination. If you do not have a health care professional that specializes in artificial insemination, you may call one of our Client Relations Specialists at 706-733-0130. Xytex has an expansive list of specialists and could possibly refer you to one in your area.

During your donor selection process, Xytex recommends that you access our Web site and thoroughly review our services, including the donor list. If at anytime you have a question, please feel free to contact one of our Client Relations Specialists. They are ready to assist you through the process, and make it as easy as possible. If you are interested in “Photo Matching” you can click here to download the form, which you will complete and mail or e-mail to the Atlanta office. In addition, Xytex recommends that you download and read a Thoughtful Conception posted on our Web site. 

Once you have selected your inseminating healthcare professional and have narrowed your donor choices, please contact Xytex at 706-733-0130 to have a Client Relations Specialists walk you through the ordering process.

Q. What should I do before I call to place an order?

A. Select several donors who possess the characteristics you seek, and rank them in your order of preference. Call Xytex to check availability of these donors. Xytex will make every effort to secure your first-choice donor, but due to normal fluctuations in our inventory, this is not always possible. We recommend ordering as early as you can to improve your chances of getting your first choice. You may also order units for future use by placing them on reserve. Pre-purchasing units guarantees that they will be there when you need them.

There are other technical factors to decide before ordering. The expected day of your ovulation must be determined in order to schedule shipment, as well as the number and type of insemination units needed. One Xytex unit contains 0.5 milliliter sperm. You also need to know whether you will need washed (suitable for intrauterine insemination), unwashed (for intracervical inseminations or procedures requiring further processing by your team), or ART (suitable for use in procedures such as IVF or ICSI) units. Plan to have your order delivered a day or two in advance of ovulation.

Q. Where is Xytex Corporation located?

A. Xytex Corporation is an international company with headquarters in Augusta, GA, USA.

Xytex Corporation
1100 Emmett Street
Augusta, GA 30904 USA
706.733.0130 (p)
706.736.9720 (f)
Xytex@xytex.com

For directions, please visit:
       Mapquest: http://www.mapquest.com

GETTING TO KNOW XYTEX DONORS

Q. What kind of men are Xytex donors?

A.  Xytex recruits men (age 18-38) throughout the community, especially at colleges because students seem to be the most interested in donation opportunities.  However, even professionals with advanced degrees such as law, medicine, and science participate in the Xytex donor program.  Some are married with children of their own.

Q. Are Xytex donors altruistic?

A.  Many Xytex donors are altruistic in the sense that they deeply care about the consequences of semen donation, that they are helping others to have children. The question, however, usually is an inquiry as to whether donors receive incentives or monetary compensation for semen itself.  Actually, donors must do much more than simply provide semen.  Donors must fill out lengthy questionnaires, research their family medical histories, endure frequent physical examinations (including needle sticks), and even adopt a lifestyle consistent with clinical requirements.  Yes, Xytex compensates its semen donors.

Q. Are Xytex donors anonymous?

A. In reality, Xytex has a spectrum of semen donors, almost all of whom are anonymous at the time the recipient is inseminated. The few donors that are non-anonymous are those that are individually arranged by the client and Xytex Tissue Storage Inc., not Xytex.  Only anonymous donors are presented here, listed on the Xytex panel, and available for general distribution. All of these anonymous donors give up all rights to children from their donor semen, but they expect their privacy to be honored. Yes, many of them are willing to provide a lot of personal descriptive information, but none have agreed to directly, personally communicate with recipients of their semen. Please note that a donor participating in the Xytex Identity Disclosure program allows Xytex to release his identity to his offspring at age 18 and older.

Q. Exactly what is the “Identity Disclosure” program at Xytex?

A. When a recipient has utilized a donor who is Identity Disclosure, the recipient must have a signed agreement on file at Xytex. When a child is born, the child must be registered on the Xytex database so that future verification can be made. At age 18, the registered child can contact Xytex for the release of identifying information on their Identity Disclosure donor. The donor has agreed to allow Xytex to release this information, but has not made a commitment beyond this. It will be up to the child to locate the donor given the information that is provided. Xytex can not guarantee that the donor can ever be found or that he will be able to accommodate the wishes of the offspring. As parents of a child of an Identity Disclosure donor, it is important that the information is understood so that the child does not grow up with unrealistic expectations of this future contact.

Q. What information is available on Xytex donors?

A. In addition to the conventional donor list and written profiles (donor’s psychosocial preferences, donor’s medical history, family genetic history), many donors provide both childhood and adult photos, PhotoSpan, Identity Disclosure, live audio interviews (INFO), and a personality evaluation in the form of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Please realize not all options are available for all donors.

Q. How does the Xytex “Basic Profile” differ from the “Enhanced Profile”?

A. The Basic Profile is extremely comprehensive and provides our clients with a donor’s responses to our “Basic Profile,” including personal and family medical histories, the donor’s education level, his occupation and physical attributes, among other things. The Basic Profile is FREE. However, should a client find a donor of particular interest, an Enhanced Profile is available for a nominal fee. The Enhanced Profile provides the client with the Basic Profile information as well as baby and adult photos, if available; a donor essay; a personality evaluation in the form of the Kerisey Temperament Sorter, and other personality attributes of the donor. A sample of these profiles may be viewed by clicking here.

Q. How often does Xytex update its donor list on the web?

 A. Xytex adds and deletes donor listings on a weekly basis.  This process includes new, previously unknown information about the donor -- everyone learns more about themselves throughout life.  The donor list on the Web is intended to post “who’s available for selection,” rather than to be an archive of all information on all Xytex donors.  It is our intent to list only “available” donors, but inventory on any donor can fluctuate drastically on a daily basis, so occasionally, a listed donor will actually be “unavailable.”  It is important to let a client services representative know your donor preferences so that you can be placed on the pending list for that particular donor; call us at 706-733-0130 or e-mail us at xytex@xytex.com.   

Q. Do you offer live audio interviews with the donors?

A.  Yes - I. N. F. O. (Informative Narrated Fone Options), a telephone based conference call environment provides patients the ability to hear live answers to their pre-submitted questions.  The session lasts approximately thirty (30) minutes and will cost $65 per patient. The I.N.F.O. program is ideal for patients who have used the selected donor in the past, or are considering using him in the future. It will allow the patient access to a closeness that was once considered impossible to obtain.

Q. Does Xytex offer baby and/or adult photos of donors?

A. Yes, Xytex offers baby photos and/or adult photos for some donors. Xytex also offers PhotoSpan on selected donors. PhotoSpan is a series of 5 photographs of the donor throughout different stages in his life. This visual presentation, downloadable directly from the site, is accompanied by narrated explanations of each photo. To search which donors have which options available, click here. Recordings of previously taped interviews are available directly through our website.  You can purchase a copy of an interview in an MP3 format for $35.  To see which donors have an audio recording available, click here.

Q. I want a donor that physically resembles my partner but I do not want photos of donors; how can Xytex help me?

A. To match individuals’ physical traits or aptitudes, you can utilize a service called “Photo Matching”.You can click here to download the form, which you will complete and mail or email to our Atlanta office.

Q. Other sperm banks offer “premium” donors (for a higher fee); why doesn’t Xytex offer this option?

A. Xytex maintains that ALL of our donors are “premium” donors. Regardless of the educational background, family heritage or current profession, every one of our donors has something special and unique to offer you and your family.

Q. How important is choosing a donor with a specific blood type?

A. That consideration is up to you. If you plan to tell your child about the use of a donor, the donor’s blood type is not as important as if you don’t anticipate telling your child. In order to avoid future questions, some couples wish to have a baby with a blood type that would be the same as a baby conceived by the husband. This concern should be discussed with your medical professional. More critically, blood type is medically important to women who are RH-negative. These women may develop antibodies to a fetus that is RH-positive. There is a 50 to 100 percent chance of having an RH-positive fetus if the semen donor is RH-positive. The importance of this possibility should be discussed with your health care professional. If the patient is RH-positive and the husband’s blood type matching is not desired, then you can choose a donor without regard to blood type. This option greatly enhances your choice of donors.

Q. What can Xytex tell me about the interaction of the donor’s genes with those I’ve gotten from my parents?

A. Genetic factors can be an important part of the semen donor selection process. Xytex wants to provide you the most complete service as you explore your options for having a healthy baby. For those who have more than idle curiosity about these important concerns, the staff at Xytex wrote "A Thoughtful Conception." It is intended to provide intelligent insight to how genes work (on cellular and molecular levels) and how the environment, such as family life, interacts with genes. It also points the way to further information, personalized to meet your special concerns.

Q. How does Xytex limit the possibility that two children unknowingly from the same donor will together become parents?

A. Xytex certainly understands this concern. The best thinking and recommendation on this issue comes from ASRM (The American Society of Reproductive Medicine): “It is difficult to provide a precise number of times that a given [sperm] donor can be used….In a population of 800,000 limiting a single donor to no more than 25 births would avoid an increased risk…” (Fertility and Sterility supplement, June 2002.) In reality, the risk can not be avoided, but it can be reduced as recommended by ASRM. There are many technical considerations that complicate this matter, issues that you could explore with your physician or genetics counselor. To reduce the risk even more, the Xytex policy requires that “any donor with 35 family units should be retired…[With the retirement, any] remaining inventory can be sold until the donor reaches 40 family units. Any remaining units can be used for second or subsequent pregnancies only [in families that already have a child by this donor]. Remember, the U.S. population is 300 million and the world population is 3 billion. A “family unit” is a family with one child or more, any of which might have been conceived by sperm from a particular man.

Q. Will Xytex tell me whether a donor has enabled recipients to become pregnant?

A.  Yes, Xytex will share this information in a qualitative manner.  However, we do not disclose quantitative pregnancy rates because they are influenced by many factors beyond our control.  One is the number of times the donor has been selected; another is how his semen was thawed; another is the timing and method of insemination; then, there is the fertility of the recipient.

Q. If a donor has no reported pregnancies, is that necessarily a bad sign?

A. No, that in no way indicates that a donor is not fertile. That could simply indicate that a donor has not been in the program for a very long time. Xytex performs rigorous testing to ensure that all of its donors provide high quality samples.

Q. What is a donor sibling registry and why doesn’t Xytex have one?

A.  It is a tool by which siblings of a particular donor can get together.  An offspring can list his or her donor with the registry:  “I am Aimee from Dallas, Texas and my donor was 1234 from Xytex.” All offspring from this donor would be half-siblings of Aimee.  Aimee can check for her registered half-siblings.   Within limits, the registry will help half-siblings contact each other.  Some donors even list their own identifying information, making contact possible with offspring.  Xytex does not maintain a donor sibling registry because several exist already.  Ask a Web search engine to find “donor sibling registry” for more information.

DONOR EVALUATION AND SEMEN EFFECTIVENESS

Q. How does a man qualify to be a sperm donor for Xytex?

A. Each Xytex donor is different, but all go through the same rigorous qualification procedure. This includes a thorough initial evaluation with periodic updates throughout the year. Before becoming a donor, a man is a donor candidate.

A donor candidate must be between the ages of 18 and 38 and is interviewed by a trained counselor to gain insight about his personality, behavior and health. He also provides a health history on up to four generations, including his own children, his siblings, parents, and grandparents. Since there is no legal way to obtain medical histories of family members, Xytex relies solely upon the donor for the accuracy of this information.

A comprehensive physical exam is the next step for the suitable candidate. We screen for visible physical abnormalities and evidence of infectious disease, and collect samples of the candidate’s semen, urine, and blood for laboratory analysis. Our medical director reviews all of the medical information in a process that takes about two months to complete.

The expertise of board certified clinical geneticists may be used to clarify special situations. A candidate is also required to complete a professional psychological evaluation requiring several hours. Only after passing all of the evaluations does a candidate become a donor.

The evaluation process doesn’t stop there. Donors are evaluated through Medical History Updates, physical exams and lab testing at least twice a year, and most donors are screened and tested more frequently, pending on inventory demand.  Information learned during re-evaluation deemed important to recipient or offspring is reported to the inseminating physician. A donor who remains in good health can continue to participate until age 40, the recommended retirement age according to the American Society of Reproductive medicine (ASRM), or until he reaches our limit of reported family units. Xytex screening and testing complies with government licensing agencies and is consistent with guidelines established by ASRM, the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and other voluntary organizations.

Q. What is the acceptance rate of men into the Xytex donor program?

A. Less than 1% of the men that ask about being a donor candidate are evaluated. Less than 5% of the candidates become donors.

Q. How often do you check donors for diseases? How long do you keep their records? What does Xytex do if it learns something important about my donor after I am inseminated?

A. “Active” donors, that is, donors regularly providing samples of blood, semen and urine are screened and tested throughout the year.  These are permanent records at Xytex even though the FDA requires record retention for only 10 years. Furthermore, we encourage donors to remain in contact with Xytex even when they “retire” from the donor program. When Xytex learns new information about a donor (either from the donor or from a recipient of his semen) that is deemed medically significant by the Medical Director, a notice is sent to the inseminating doctor.

Q. What diseases does Xytex check a donor for?

A. Xytex screens or tests donors for the diseases listed in our “Basic Profile,” in our “Semen Donor Screening Guide”, and in our “Summary of Records”. The diseases are mainly infectious or genetic diseases that a donor could pass on to you or to your offspring. It is important for you to understand that the Xytex search for transmissible diseases is limited to those listed on the Donor Screening Guide. The list includes diseases required by governmental regulations and recommended by American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Even following these expectations, Xytex cannot guarantee that the donor is free of these diseases; all that can be said is that we have looked for them. This is a very technical matter that you may want to discuss with your health care professional.

Q. When checking a donor for transmissible diseases, what is the difference between screening and testing?

A. There is a lot of difference. Screening is looking for evidence that indicates or suggests something specific, like a particular disease. Testing is a procedure that is specific for the particular disease. A good example would be evaluating a person for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. The person could be asked screening questions suggestive of the disease, questions such as having fever, unprotected sex, painful urination, or a genital discharge. The answers may suggest whether the person has a STI or even an infection by gonorrhea, but these are not tests because the answers that would suggest gonorrhea might also suggest another kind of infection. A physical exam of the body is another screening procedure. There are two specific tests for gonorrhea: seeing gonorrhea bacteria with a microscope in material taken from the genitals of the person or finding gonorrhea DNA in that material. This is really a technical issue that you might want to discuss with your health care professional. To indicate the complexity of the subject, Xytex “screens” for cystic fibrosis (CF) by doing DNA testing, but because CF may be caused by more than 100 genes, our testing is for only the most likely genes to cause CF. We test for these specific genes, but it is only a screen for CF.

Q. What about diseases such as alcoholism, asthma, bipolar disorder, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis, psoriasis, stroke and all the others?

A. Xytex screens or tests for diseases listed on the Semen Donor Screening Guide.  When a donor is in the first stages of qualification, he completes a Medical History Questionnaire.  His responses indicate whether himself or any blood relative has ever been diagnosed with a lengthy list of diseases (genetic and infectious).  If he indicates that a family member has been diagnosed, this information is recorded and available in his basic profile. Each donor’s responses are reviewed by our medical director with assistance, when needed, by a geneticist.  Each donor is required to update this information every six months, information that is reviewed professionally.  Xytex urges anyone selecting a donor to have his Basic Profile reviewed by her physician.

Q. Should I be concerned about having an allergic reaction to cryopreserved sperm?

A. Xytex uses “Freezing Medium” produced by Irvine Scientific.  This is a media approved by the FDA for freezing semen for use in assisted reproductive procedures.  It is composed of a balanced salt solution, an antibiotic: gentamicin sulfate, glycerol, and heat-in activated egg yolk.  Please consult your physician if you are allergic to gentamicin sulfate or egg yolk protein.

Q. Why freeze sperm?

A. Fresh semen is unsuitable for sperm banking because it begins losing its fertility within an hour or two after ejaculation.  Since a sperm bank is expected to have available at all times semen from a diversity of donors with different physical characteristics and different talents, it is necessary to bank or store the sperm from the time of collection until the time of need. Xytex accomplishes this by extending the survival period to years through a special freezing process of cryopreservation. It is the only way sperm can be shipped from the bank to a distant user. Also of great importance, sperm is cryopreserved to allow testing for sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV.  After being thawed, cryopreserved sperm can be just as fertile as “fresh” sperm.

Q. What is the purpose of the quarantine period, and how long does it last?

A. Sperm is cryopreserved to allow for retesting of a variety of diseases, most importantly the HIV virus that causes the potentially-lethal AIDS infection. This means that freshly collected sperm must be stored for a minimum of six (6) months before repeat testing. Repeat testing includes HIV 1 & 2 antibodies, HTLV I & II antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis C, RPR, TP-PA and cytomegalovirus antibodies. Donors are also tested for Chlamydia and gonorrhea and receive a full genital culture.

Q. Does “freezing” semen reduce the fertility of sperm?

A. The cryopreserved sperm that Xytex provides is just as fertile, if not more fertile, than typical freshly ejaculated sperm. Cryopreservation requires careful selection of “freezable” donors, then adding materials to protect the cells from freezing injury, as well as regulating cooling and freezing in such a way to minimize freezing injury. The insemination material in IUI and ICI samples provided by Xytex has no fewer than 30 million motile sperm per milliliter, much “richer” than that provided by other sperm banks. A normal sperm count in a typical “fresh” ejaculate is 20 million sperm per milliliter. Because fewer cells are needed in procedures such as IVF and ICSI, Xytex ART vials have a guarantee of at least 15 million motile sperm per milliliter.

Q. Does thawed semen cause more birth defects than normal?

A. No. A comparison of human births resulting from thawed semen showed no difference in the rate of birth defects or miscarriage than in non-assisted pregnancies.

Q. How long can human sperm survive cryopreservation?

A. Scientists believe the potential for long-term storage is indefinite. In October 2005 the American Society for Reproductive Medicine published a report from four physicians that several women had normal births from semen stored for 28 years.

ORDERING AND INSEMINATION

Q. How can I be certain that Xytex will have sperm available from my favorite donor?

A. The inventory of samples from a given donor changes on a daily basis as specimens are shipped from and added to our stock. Donors may also be "retired", or leave the program. If you have selected a donor and feel strongly about using him exclusively until you become pregnant -- or if you would like to have other children using the same donor -- you probably want to pre-purchase specimens to guarantee their availability when you need them. You or your physician may place a "reserve" order at any time by simply giving us a call. You pay for the samples, and we'll hold them for you in our facility. There is no storage fee for the first six months if you purchase eight or more units; otherwise, a nominal monthly, biannual or annual storage fee applies. If you decide not to use your reserved specimens, or if you get pregnant quickly and don't need all of them, you'll receive a 50 percent refund on specimens cancelled within the first six months of your order. (Unfortunately, we are unable to make refunds on specimens reserved for more than six months of storage.)

Q. How much sperm should be ordered?

A. This is a technical question for your physician. Basically the question is whether to order one or more insemination units. An insemination unit is 0.5 milliliters and is usually enough for one insemination. Some physicians use a single unit during the fertile time and others use more. You should also be aware that Xytex provides no less than 30 million motile (swimming) sperm per milliliter, the highest concentration provided by any sperm bank.

Q. Are there other technical issues?

A. Quite a few, actually: whether intracervical insemination (ICI), intrauterine insemination (IUI) units or ART vials are needed; whether an insemination appliance is needed; what date should the semen arrive. Again, consult your physician for answers appropriate to your situation.

Q. What is the difference between “washed”, “unwashed” and ART samples? Are some cleaner than others?

A. The terms “washed” and “unwashed” can be confusing. However, these terms have nothing to do with the cleanliness of the semen. Washed units must be used if the patient is undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI). Before cryopreservation, the sperm are separated from the seminal fluid and the fluid is replaced with a preservative fluid; this fluid replacement is the so-called “washing” process. It is critical that washed units are used in IUI as unwashed units injected into the uterus can cause violent cramping which, in addition to being extremely painful, will most likely result in the loss of all sperm injected. Both washed and unwashed samples can be used for ICI or intracervical inseminations. ART samples are processed in exactly the same way, the only difference being the minimum number of motile cells.

Q. What comes in a shipment?

A. Each unit of semen arrives frozen in a screw-cap vial. Each vial is clipped to a metal support rod (called a “cane”) to facilitate vial removal from a refrigerated “tank” (or “dry shipper”). The tank is refrigerated with liquid nitrogen trapped in spongy material to prevent spillage, hence the name “dry shipper.” Outside of the tank are shipping documents including product description and other non-frozen material such as insemination appliances, "Summary of Records" and a packet of documents for the inseminated patient.

Q. How do I place an order?

A. You or your health care professional can place orders by calling Xytex at 706-733-0130, but shipments will only be sent to your medical specialist who has signed a Supply Agreement with Xytex. Orders placed by patients will be confirmed with the office that is to receive the shipment. An order placed before 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time can be shipped the same day, otherwise, it will be shipped the following day. If you need a "rush" delivery or a weekend or holiday shipment, call our office and the answering service will help you contact the manager on call. We can usually arrange for a shipment to be delivered to your physician's office in less than 24 hours, although considerable additional charges will apply.

Q. What types of shipping arrangements are available?

A. Xytex will make all arrangements for your order to arrive at your professional's office on the guaranteed arrival date. You can choose a 24-hour or a two-day delivery option. Our shipping containers will keep your samples safely frozen for seven days, allowing for the unpredictable nature of ovulation. When you have used your specimen, Xytex will make all arrangements for the return of the container.

Q. Can I perform the insemination at home or can this only be done at the clinic?

A. Xytex Corporation is willing to send your donor specimen to any address specified on your order form. Regardless of the destination of the shipment, Xytex requires its clients to be under a physician’s care. Your health care professional must sign an Authorization to Ship to an Alternate Location form prior to having any specimens shipped directly to the patient. Xytex recommends consulting with this professional on all matters relating to inseminations, including the decision to inseminate at home as there are serious risks to be considered.

Q. I am interested in having an additional child with a retired donor; what steps do I take?

A. This process is called “Donor Reactivation.”  It involves a step-by-step process that the Donor Counselor can go over with you.

Q. What methods of payment do you accept?

A. Xytex accepts payment by check, money order, cash and most major credit cards including VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, and DISCOVER cards.

Q. Do you offer payment plans?

A. Yes, Xytex offers payment plans for donor semen services, semen storage and egg donation services through CareCredit, a company that specializes in medical payment plans. Click here to find out more about these payment plan options.

Q. If my doctor has semen I have purchased but do not need, will Xytex give a refund if it is returned?

A. No. Xytex does not restock semen that has left the warehouse. Xytex has full control over semen from the time the donor provides it until it leaves the warehouse. Once it leaves our facility, Xytex is no longer certain of its history, so in good faith, it cannot be offered to professionals and their patients as “Xytex semen”. However, Xytex can store this semen for your future use. There is a nominal storage fee.

Q. If during insemination my M.D. feels the specimen is of poor quality what do I do?

A. Have your M.D. fax a Lab Manager at 706-736-9720 the following information: Donor #, lot #, date of insemination, date specimen received, patient name (if patient was invoiced), specimen evaluation. Consideration will only be made on reports received within 30 days of specimen arrival date.

Q. How will Xytex handle a complaint of poor quality?

A. The steps taken to handle your complaint are as follows:
1. A Lab Manager will first evaluate your physician’s report.
2. That Lab Manager will give her recommendation to the Executive Administrator.
3. Final decision will be made within two weeks of receipt.
4. Only specimens that are thawed within 30 days of arrival will be considered for replacement.

Q. How do I report a birth?

A. Contained in the patient packet of your shipment will be a “live birth card.”  However, if you need a replacement card, please contact Xytex and we can send you one.  Please fill out the appropriate sections regarding the birth.  This information is very important to Xytex as it is used to track the number of births for each particular donor.  Additionally, you may receive FREE information regarding your donor by completing the options at the bottom of the card.  When done, please mail the card back to Xytex.

Do you have more questions? Please feel free to use the form below to contact us.