Donor Semen - What kind of donor information is available?
Our donors are registered with race, ethnicity, eye colour, hair colour, weight, heigh, education and blood group. But we only give this information to clinics. This could be donor lists, online access to our Donor Search Donor Characteristic & Quarantine Release form, etc. Cryos International - Denmark is organised like "whole sale" or "factory". We only service clinics. If you want information about the donors you must contact the clinic where you are treated. It is up to the clinic what policy they have about what kind of information they forward. If you know that it is important for you to have access to donor lists, extended profiles about donor, photo of donor, etc. you should contact our New York department. They are organised to service patients directly as all other american sperm banks are. In Denmark (and Europe) it is custom that the clinic chooses the donor. Two different systems. Two different cultures. - How do I access your donor list?
Only physicians and persons authorized to perform therapeutic treatment with donor semen are allowed access to the donor list.
Cryos International - Denmark is organised like "whole sale" or "factory". We only service clinics.
If you want information about the donors you must contact the clinic where you are treated. It is up to the clinic what policy they have about what kind of information they forward.
If you know that it is important for you to have access to donor lists, extended profiles about donor, photo of donor, etc. you should contact our New York department. They are organised to service patients directly as all other american sperm banks are.
In Denmark (and Europe) it is custom that the clinic chooses the donor.
Two different systems. Two different cultures.
- Do you have open ID donors?
Yes, we have open ID donors. Sometimes they are called ID disclosure donors and sometimes known donors. We call them non-anonymous donors. We started operating with non-anonymous donors in October 2006 after a special permission from the Danish authorities. In Denmark doctors are not allowed to treat patients with non-anonymous donors, but i.e. clinics which are run by midwifes can treat patients with non-anonymous donors. Cryos can also export the semen from non-anonymous donors. The non-anonymous donors have accepted that when the children turn 18 they can gain access to the donor's identity. In January 2008 we had 22 non-anonymous donors free of quarantine. - Do you deliver donor semen to UK?
For the time being we do not deliver donor semen to UK. Only non-anonymous donors are allowed in UK and only if some specific papers and additional tests have been done.
As we have only very few non-anonymous donors and as the demand for non-anonymous donors is increasing internationally, because some countries have abandoned anonymous donors, those countries that do not require specific papers and additonal tests takes all what we can get. We are trying to attract more non-anonymouos donors, but it is difficult to follow the demand. If we succeed to meet the demand in future we will try also to prepare donors for UK, but until then we must refer patent from UK to find clinics abroad. For instance in Ireland, The Channel Islands, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, etc. where we can deliver anonymous and non-anonymous donor semen without problems.
To find a fertility clinic you should search the internet with Google, Yahoo, etc. or you can also try PregnancyMD's.
If you need help please contact us.
- Can you confirm the donor number and alias in New York?
No. We don’t know the alias - and we don’t want to know it either.
Explanation: When we opened our branch in USA in 2001 because of an increasing demand from there we had to find a way to present our donors in a different way than we were used to. In Denmark only doctors are allowed to choose donors – not patients, and doctors are only allowed to choose according to race, hair- and eye colour, high and weight. In USA it is the patients who choose sperm bank and donors, and with direct access to donor lists, extended profiles, etc. If we presented our donors the American way the problem was that other recipients who have received treatment with the same donor would suddenly be able to find information about “their” donor that was not informed in relation to their own treatment. We had to find a method how we could present the same donors in two different ways. This was the reason why we invented the alias names as Arke, Jens, Eric, etc.
If patients want the additional information available in New York and if they want the direct patient service they should contact our New York branch.
The alias-system will end in due time. FDA has banned import of donor semen from Europe donated after May 25, 2005. The stock of alias donors in New York is running out. In future a donor at Cryos will either be registered wit a number or with a fictitious name.
- How do I reserve donor semen?
Parents who have given birth to a child as a result of artificial insemination will often later in life want to have more children. The question is then whether it is possible to receive semen from the same donor. Often this is not possible, because the particular donor will be “sold out” by that time.
In order to avoid this situation, it is recommended that the patient takes contact directly to Cryos a.s.a.p. after the pregnancy has been confirmed and asks for a reservation of an individual number of units (straws) from the donor.
- What does MOT mean?
MOT is a quality term we use for our semen. MOT means motility (ability to move or swim) and 20 means 20 million pr. ml. The term states that there are a minimum of 20 million highly motile spermatozoa pr. ml in the sample after thawing according to the WHO-standard.
We operate with following qualities:
MOT5, MOT10, MOT20, MOT30 MOT40 and MOT50+
IUI-MOT5, IUI-MOT10 and IUI-MOT20+ (IUI stands for Intra Uterine Insemination directly).
- How much donor semen should be ordered?
This depends very much on the situation. Semen can be ordered ad hoc for a particular recipient or orders can cover a selection of several donors for local stocks. If you are in doubt please contact us. - What kind of information is needed when placing an order?
1: Donor number(s) (see Donor Search) or characteristics of the male recipient(s)
2: Quantity and quality (i.e. MOT, IUI-ready or standard) of straws
3: Delivery address
4: Requested shipping date.
Small orders received on week days before 12:00 hours (noon) can be sent the same day. Larger orders must be received the day before.
NB: shipping can only take place directly to patients on the order of a doctor. - How do you ship frozen semen?
Nationally by truck. Internationally by air courier or air cargo door-to-door including customs clearance (excluding duty and tax) either on dry-ice or in a container of liquid nitrogen depending on the situation and destination. For further information about terms for international shipments we refer to Incoterm.  
- How long does the semen stay frozen during transportation?
Our standard liquid nitrogen shipping container will keep its contents frozen for a minimum of one week without replenishment of the coolant (our larger tanks can stay cold longer). Dry-ice lasts for about 3 days. 
- When can I expect delivery?
Delivery time: Europe: 1-2 days. Rest of the world: 2-5 days depending on destination. Ask for specific delivery times. Sometimes the local customs procedures may delay delivery.
- What are the shipping costs?
Delivery costs depend on weight and destination and on whether or not it involves return transportation of empty tanks. Transportation costs can be calculated and informed to you before dispatch. Please contact us for a quote.
- Do you deliver to private patients?
No, we only deliver to physicians, hospitals, clinics or other facilities authorized to perform therapeutic treatment with donor semen. Only in case a doctor will order us to deliver directly to the patient we will do so. Private patients are referred to Cryos International - New York.
To find a fertility clinic you should search locally. Maybe you can use search engine as Google, Yahoo, etc. or you can try PregnancyMD's.
- What documentation will be included with the semen?
Invoice, Packing List, Donor Characteristic & Quarantine Release forms for each donor involved and necessary instructions are sent with the semen. - What is the recommended quantity and quality by ordering of donor semen?
In case of vaginal insemination we recommend 2 straws MOT20 or higher per insemination. The same for swim-up preparation for IUI (Intra Uterus Insemination).
In case the preparation is done by swim-up or gradient centrifugation all qualities can be used because the concentration is a question of dilution after preparation. Use for instance 8 x MOT5, 4 x MOT10 or 2 x MOT20 straws. The content of motile spermatozoa will be the same.
After preparation there should be at least 2 million motile spermatozoa per ml by IUI.
IUI-ready straws can be used for directly interuterine insemination. One straw IUI-MOT5 may be a little too little. Preferable two straws of IUI-MOT5 or one straw of MOT10 should be used.
- What is normal sperm quality?
The WHO standard for normospermic samples is 10 million highly progressive motile spermatozoa per ml.
- How many straws are used per treatment and how many straws should be ordered?
It depends on what kind of treatment and preparation of semen is planned.
Some clinics use only one straw while others use three or even four of the same quality. The most clinics inseminate once per cycle, but some clinics twice (2 days before ovulation and at the expected time of ovulation).
In order to reduce shipping costs, it is recommended that you order straws for several cycles at a time. Please note that straws cannot be returned.
- Do you ship worldwide ?
Yes, we ship to any worldwide destination. The only requirement is that delivery only takes place to a physician or other authorized medical persons or institutions approved for therapeutic treatment with donor semen.
- How do I order donor semen?
See the Donor Search and Available Stock of different qualities/prices. Orders may be placed by e-mail, phone, fax or standard mail.
Normally we only service doctors or clinics authorized to do insemination. In specific cases orders from private patients can be handled, but delivery will always take place to a doctor - unless we have an order from the doctor to deliver directly to the patient.
Private patients are normally referred to our USA department Cryos International - New York.
To find a fertility clinic you should search locally. Maybe you can use search engine as Google, Yahoo, etc. or you can try PregnancyMD's. - Is shipping of semen insured?
Donor semen is normally shipped door-to-door including custom clearance but excluding any tax or duty. This is called DDU according to Incoterm standard. The transport costs and insurance fees is added. Insurance-fee: Europe: 1% of the value. Rest of the world: 2%. - Can I reserve semen from the same donor for siblings?
Parents who have given birth to a child as a result of artificial insemination with donor semen will often later in life want to have more children. The question is then whether it is possible to receive semen from the same donor. Often this is not possible, because the particular donor will be "sold out" by that time.
In order to avoid this situation, it is recommended that the patient takes contact directly to Cryos a.s.a.p. after the pregnancy has been confirmed and asks for a reservation of an individual number of units (straws) from the donor.
See also Reservation.
- Do you deliver washed samples or IUI-ready?
Yes. We deliver both unwashed and IUI-ready (or washed) semen. IUI means Intra Uterine Insemination.
Unwashed semen can be used for vaginal or cervical insemination directly after thawing. IUI-ready can be used for insemination directly in the uterus cavity or for IVF-treatment (In Vitro Fertilization).
The unwashed semen can be used for IUI or IVF if it is prepared after thawing and before treatment by doing a swim-up or by a density gradient centrifugation.
- How are the donors screened?
Each donor candidate meets rigorous selection criteria and undergoes a thorough medical examination prior to acceptance. Donors are tested and approved according to at least one Standard, but often more. - How long are samples kept in quarantine?
All our samples are kept in quarantine for at least six months before they are released. Donors are screened by a doctor for infectious diseases at three month intervals. If a donor is tested positive, his samples are destroyed.
- How many children are born from the same donor?
Cryos registers each pregnancy and manages the pregnancy limits in two different quotas-systems: 1) The "national quota" is the maximum number of pregnancies per donor based on any kind of regulation in the form of laws, circular letters, or collective agreements from organizations in the country in question.
2) "Cryos' “worldwide quota" is a general limit of 1 pregnancy per 200,000 citizens in the patient's country. Siblings are not included.
An increasing numbers of patients are treated abroad and many countries do not have any national pregnancy quotas. To control the number of pregnancies per donor, Cryos has set a "worldwide quota". This quota only takes into consideration the nationality of the patient not the country in which the patient is treated.
Example:
If a Finnish woman is treated in Finland, her pregnancy will count in the national quota which is 5 pregnancies (plus siblings) per donor. Her pregnancy will also count in the worldwide quota. If she is treated in the UK her pregnancy will not have an influence on the Finnish and the UK national quotas. However, it will influence the worldwide quota (1 pregnancy per 200,000 citizens in the patient’s country) which in this case is 26 pregnancies plus siblings (Finnish citizens 5,223,442 : 200,000 = 26 pregnancies + siblings). - How many DI-treatment cycles are expected per pregnancy?
This varies greatly from patient to patient and also depends on the semen preparation technique, the insemination technique, hormone stimulation, timing etc. The average number of cycles is around five to six per pregnancy. Our clients report an average pregnancy rate (PR) of about 15 - 40% per cycle.
- Do you screen for cystic fibrosis?
If increased risk of donor being a carrier. See also Screening.
- What is cystic fibrosis?
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common recessive genetic disorders within the Caucasian (white) population. Approx. 3% of the population are carriers of the CF gene. Both the male and the female must be a carrier to yield a 1:4 risk of a CF child. 2:4 of the children are healthy carriers and 1:4 are healthy non-carriers.
If only one of the parents are a carrier, the child cannot develop CF.
The female recipient can be examined by a blood sample. If the recipient is negative, the child cannot develop CF. If she is positive, we will perform an examination of a selected donor
- How are the donors identified?
Since 2007 the identity of the donors are know by Cryos. By each donation and examination the donor must identify himself by finger print identification and a personal code, passport or driving license. - What is a straw?
 Semen is delivered in clear 0.4 or 0.5 ml CBS high security straw or in 0.5 ml clear IMV straws. Each straw is marked with the donor number or fictitious name and the ejaculate number (for example "1234-56" or "CLIFF-14").
- Where are your donors from?
 The vast majority of our donors are native Danish and reflects the general population in Scandinavia. Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe and includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
However, we do have some few donors from other races and other ethnic origins.
In future the netword of Cryos-sperm banks will give us access to all kind of ethnicities.
- Where can I find a fertility clinic?
To find a fertility clinic you should search locally. Maybe you can use search engine as Google, Yahoo, etc. or you can try PregnancyMD's. - What kind of information is included in the Donor Characteristic & Release Form?
Donor ID-No.
Type of donor (anonymous or non-anonymous)
Race/ethnicity
Colour of eyes
Colour of hair
Height (cm)
Weight (kg)
Psychological profile
Education/occupation
Bloodgroup (AB0/Rh)
Any additional information
Any additional examination
Screening and related ejaculates.
- What characteristics are important when finding a donor?
The goal is to match, as far as the circumstances permit, the genetic characteristics of the social father. Traits considered might be race, complexion, colour of eyes, colour of hair, height and weight.
People have two genes for eye colour: Blue and brown, and the gene for brown is the dominant gene. Green and grey colours are caused by genetic mixing and belong to the blue group.
Hair colour/type is genetically more complicated. Our hair colour categories are: Blond, brown, dark brown, black and red.
There might be indications for choosing a specific blood type.
- What is the security procedure when handling semen at Cryos?
In order to keep the highest safety and security the semen is handed strictly according to the Manuals. The Manuals are written standard operation procedures. Only authorized employees handle the semen. Each ejaculate is signed for personally when handed over from the donor who at the same time must identify himself by fingerprint or secure photo ID. Only one ejaculate is "open" and under process at a time. Gloves and laboratory equipment which comes into contact with the semen are discarded between samples, and table, microscope, etc. are decontaminated. All utensils and media or other thing that has been in contact with the semen is registered. The ID-marking of straws is double checked and signed for. When the ejaculates are released from the six months´ quarantine the donor journal and the screening documentations are double checked and finally, before shipment of the frozen samples, the documentation and the marking on the straws are double chequed (by two people) and signed for.
- How can you know the post-thaw quality of semen?
A sample of each specimen is analyzed after first being frozen and thawed.
- How do you measure motility?
From 19SEP2005 according to the WHO standard:
a: rapid progressive motility (i.e. >20 µm/s at 20°C)
b: slow or sluggish progessive motility
c: nonprogressive motility (<5 µm/s)
d: immotility
Previously:
+0 = no motility
+1 = circular or non-progressive motility
+2 = moderate progressive (linear) motility
+3 = good progressive (linear) motility
+4 = excellent progressive (linear) motility
- What semen parameters do you analyze?
We register the volume (ml), the sperm concentration (density), the concentration of motile spermatozoa before freezing and after thawing.
We have not been able to register an influence on pregnancy outcome from other sperm parameters, such as morphology, pH, viscousity, zinck, selen, etc.
- What is your freezing procedure?
STANDARD UNITS: Since 1987 we have been using SpermCryo medium. Documentaton: >150,000 ejaculates frozen, >100,000 inseminations and >12,000 pregnancies). After 3 years test we switched in 2008 to use SpermCryoAll-round with HSA as standard.
IUI-READY UNITS: Is frozen with Irvine Scientific TYB with egg yolk - from USDA certified SPF (Virus Free) laying flocks, heat inactivated at 56º C for 30 minutes and 10µg/mL Gentamicin Sulfate. - What is the expected pregnancy rate (PR) using your your donor semen?
The accumulative pregnancy rate (PR) should be about 10-40% after the first cycle treatment, about 15-60% after the second cycle treatment etc. with a total of about 50-70% after six cycle treatments and about 60-80% after 12 cycle treatments. But the PR differs very much from clinic to clinic and is very much influenced by the selection of patients (especially age) and treatment methods. A Danish University clinic reported an average PR of 22.3% for 1131 cycles (developing from 12.9% in 1990 to 34.6% in 1998). - How many treatments per cycle is recommended?
Most clinics perform only one treatment per cycle but some use two. Using two treatments per cycle makes it easier to cover the ovulation time, but a thorough scanning and timing procedure can make one treatment sufficient.
- Do you screen for Mycoplasma hominis?
No, we do not, because these diseases are practically unknown in Scandinavia.
- What is Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI)?
The insemination of spermatozoa directly into the uterine cavity is called IUI. Scientific studies have shown a three to four times higher pregnancy rate through IUI than through vaginal or cervical insemination. However, before IUI can be carried out, the semen must be preparated through swim-up or by density gradient centrifugation in order to remove prostaglandins (from the prostata) and bacteria in the semen. If this is not done, the patient may react negatively or get severe cramps.
- What is Vaginal or Cervical Insemination?
The insemination of spermatozoa in vagina or the cervical channel can be done with unpreparated semen. Intra uterine insemination (IUI) normally results in 3-4 times higher pregnancy rate per cyclus than vaginal or cervical insemination.
- How do you register the pregnancies?
The clinic performing the insemination must report any resulting pregnancies to Cryos. Pregnancies can be reported online from Pregnancy Registration or by mail. - What is CBS®-straws?
CBS® (CryoBioSystem) High Secutity Straws are specifically manufactured for safe cryo storage of biological products in liquid nitrogen and nitrogen vapor. Applications include storage of serum, plasma, buffy-coat and other blood fractions, cell suspension, bacterial or viral strains, gametes and embryos.
The straws are are heat-sealed at each end and have a special compartment containing semen and a special compartment for the donor ID. The sealing process is carried out with a special machine that does not transfer heat to the semen. This ensures safe storage and prevents tampering with the ID.
The straw is 510 (k) FDA-cleared and CE-marked as a medical device for storage of human gametes and embryos.
- What is IMV-straws?
IMV straws was the standard straws before CBS high security straws was developed in the late 1990'ties.
IMV straws was originally developed for the animal reproductive industri but was also used for freezing of human sperm and egg for about 50 years. The standard straw used in Cryos International was clear or yellow colour 0.5 ml.
In year 2000 Cryos International switched to use special manufactured 0.4 ml CBS high security straws as standard.
The stock of IMV straws will decrease after year 2000, but it will take decades before the last IMV straws is gone.
For further information see IMV Technologies.
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