cmv??
CynthiaJ03
Posts: 2
I read that this is a disease that can cause retardation in your baby from male sperm. Is that what that means on here when it states yes or no? If so why would you even allow that??
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My understanding is if a person is positive for cmv, it means they have been exposed to the cmv virus. If a woman is cmv negative, which means they have never been exposed then they need to choose a donor who is also negative. If a woman is exposed to the cmv virus for the first time through cmv positive semen then it can cause genetic abnormalities in a fetus. So the "yes " and "no" refers to if the donor has been exposed.
Hope this helps.
LP
CMV positive means the donor carries CMV antibodies, not a transmittable virus. Think about it like chicken pox -- just because you had it, doesn't mean you are still contagious.
In 35 years, we have never had a reported case of a donor testing positive for CMV antibodies passing it on to a recipient or child. If we did, we wouldn't offer these donors (nor would the FDA allow it).
An applicant who tests positive for a transmittable infection would not be allowed into the donor program. If a current donor tests positive for an active infection, all vials collected since his last negative test are destroyed. Because of our 6 month quarantine procedure, all donors are tested multiple times for communicable diseases prior to a vial being released.
CMV is extremely common. In fact, estimates are that half the U.S. adult population have come in contact with the CMV virus.
The CMV virus can cause potential birth defects. However, CMV antibodies DO NOT. There is no published evidence that we can find to demonstrate that the CMV antibodies sperm banks talk about pose any health risk to recipients or their children. Consider the fact that you never even heard of CMV before starting this process and no doctor ever recommends a couple be tested for CMV before attempting to conceive naturally.
You can certainly choose a CMV negative donor, but it will limit your options for no medically sound reason.
Good luck,
Scott
CCB