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Sperm bank

A sperm bank is a medical facility that stores sperm to be used for artificial insemination. Donors are carefully screened for genetic conditions and infectious diseases.

Sperm are frozen for 6 months before being used. This is done so that the donor can be retested to ensure that he does not have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Frozen sperm are generally less successful in fertilizing a woman's egg than fresh sperm.

A sperm bank provides an option for women who want to have a child but who do not have a male partner or whose male partner is infertile.

Author Merrill Hayden
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Terrina Vail
Primary Medical Reviewer Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH
- Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Kirtly Jones, MD
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Updated May 23, 2006

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: May 23, 2006
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