February is a great month to discuss how to balance time between being a sperm donor and being in a sexual relationship. Being a sperm donor requires weekly donations, and you must be abstinent for 48 hours before each donation. So, how do you discuss and balance your time with a significant other?
Talk About Sperm Donation With Your Partner
Healthy relationships depend on open and ongoing communication. Communicating with your partner about why you are a sperm donor will help your partner understand why it is important to you too.
If you become a sperm donor during the relationship, your partner would see firsthand what it takes to join the program and what lead you to join the program. If you were a sperm donor before the start of the relationship, it may be a good idea to talk about the time you spent going through the application process and how not everyone who applies makes it into the program. In fact, only around 1% of applicants make it into the program.
Why Sperm Donations Are Worthwhile
Another aspect of being a sperm donor is the benefits provided to donors. Benefits include routine health screenings with STIs to help keep both you and your partner healthy.
Further, sperm donors support two-mom families, single parents by choice and men with infertility become parents and grow their families.
Required Abstinence Before Donation
Tissue donations come with physical limitations and restrictions either before or after the time of donation. For example, after donating blood it is recommended that you refrain from vigorous exercise and avoid alcohol. Sperm donation is no different and has its own restrictions.
To keep sperm counts high enough to be useable for treatments, you must be abstinent for at least 48 hours before each donation. This means you will have to schedule donations around intimate time with your partner.
Scheduling Donations Around Your Time
Seattle Sperm Bank donors have the flexibility to re-schedule and modify their schedule as needed.
Donors are requested to donate at least once a week and have routine health screenings for STIs. With the lab hours, donors can stop by before work, during lunch breaks, or between classes. This leaves room to visit the lab before having quality time with a partner for the evening or before a weekend.
If you are interested in applying to the program to see if you can start making a difference for people who rely on sperm donations, you can start now with an online application. Read more about preparing for your first visit to the lab. If you have any questions, you can reach the Donor Coordinator at donor@seattlespermbank.com or call 206-588-1484.
