When to select a donor?

kittycat123kittycat123 Posts: 10
in Selecting a Sperm Donor
My wife and I are in the very beginning stages of the process, doing research on the proper steps, selecting a place we like for IUI, changing lifestyle (eating habits, taking vitamins, etc)and we clearly have registered here and are looking at donors.
When did you all select your donors? How far in advance before IUI/IVF, etc? We are looking to have our first insemination late next summer early fall either in September or October. When we buy we want to buy enough to get the free storage as we plan to have siblings and don't want to short change ourselves on how much we get (rather have too much than not enough!). The problem I am currently having is I have 2-3 top donors, 1 I know is popular and the other is new and I believe will also be popular. Worried that they will be gone when we select. I'm sure there will be others that come along, but this is a big decision and what if there is not? Just wondering if anyone else has had that problem and when did you select.

Comments

  • BanditBandit Posts: 348
    Congrats... It is a hard decision. I registered looked selected donors changed my mine and then went threw it all over again. I think I picked the same donor both times. When I finally decided on him, I purchased 6 vials (which gave me 1 year free storage and free shipping on my first order). I finally purchased in Dec of 2011, Insemination end of Jan and then again end of Feb. I got pregnant on my second round and then left them in storage for a year. I thought I may have a 2nd but was to sick with my first that they recommend not having another. I recently sold my donor back to CCB. Good luck with your decision. It is a journey and make sure you have an amazing support system. It helps. These boards are amazing and I have a lot of friends from these boards that I have never met and hope will be lifelong.
  • SweetthearttSweettheartt Posts: 373
    Here's the problem with overstocking. I chose a donor and tried him 3 times and didn't get pregnant. When it happens a few times you don't want to use the donor anymore. Even if their numbers were good. So I came up with a new strategy. I would buy someone new that I knew had plenty and try the insemination. If not pregnant would switch the donor. Ultimately the first donor three times, second donor once, third donor got me pregnant. Also, new donors come up all the time who you may like more than your original choice.
  • kittycat123kittycat123 Posts: 10
    Thank you for the insight! I like your strategy! My concern is it is very important for our children to be blood related (we will each carry) and the donor I would have selected already close to sold out and was realeased less than a month ago! Which is only one imsenination round and no guarantee for a next round of release. I guess the worrying of a parent starts well before conception in this process :)
  • SweetthearttSweettheartt Posts: 373
    Buy right before you inseminate. It is only about one and a half weeks later you will know if you are pregnant. Then stock up then. I've learned a lot through this process. Do not "romanticize" the donor as being the perfect one. You don't really know that, you only know what is presented to you. I really wouldn't do the overstock right away because sometimes the donors motility or sperm count isn't good and they only reimburse used vials. You wil find MANY examples of women who had less than satisfactory experiences. Also call a rep and since they can look at the adult photos they can tell you info.
  • SweetthearttSweettheartt Posts: 373
    I also wouldn't suggest you carry at the same time. Give yourselves time to adjust to each baby as they come. If you've never been pregnant let me tell you it is absolutely exhausting you need the other to get you thru.
  • kittycat123kittycat123 Posts: 10
    We are not! A good 2-3 years in between. I didn't realize people did that but we get asked if we are doing it that way a lot!
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