Exploring the overseas option
The reason someone might choose to go the overseas route is quite simply because of the much bigger choice of sperm donors available. Although there are sperm banks in the UK, Canada, Sweden, Holland and Australia, by far the largest number of banks and sperm donors are found in the US. The US is also one of the few places that are prepared to ship sperm to South Africa. So most of the information that is discussed here, is from research done specifically into sperm banks in the US, although you might decide to explore the UK or even Australia as an option for yourself.

The pros
Perhaps the biggest option available to you by going the overseas route, that is not available to us here in South Africa, is being able to use an identity-release or known donor. Sperm banks in the United States have recently made a concerted effort to increase their identity-release donor lists, where a child conceived through sperm donation may make contact with the donor once they turn 18. This contact is facilitated by the bank, and contact thereafter is left up to how child and donor. Donors choose to be identity-release or known donors as opposed to unknown or anonymous, and the reasons they cite for choosing this option is mostly because they believe they would want to know, or that it is a courtesy to allow the child the choice.

In South Africa, up to date, there are only anonymous donors available. So you might choose to go the overseas route if you feel strongly that you would like to give your child the option to meet or find out identifying information about their donor later in their life.

Many of the sperm banks in the US also offer a sibling registry where children conceived by the same donor can also make contact with each other, and this seems to be especially rewarding for some offspring. At the same time, you might choose to go the overseas route if you have concerns about your child meeting up accidentally with half siblings here in South Africa.

Other reasons you might go the international route, is the amount of information available on each donor. Besides the usual summary of the donor (skin, hair, and eye colour, weight, height and hobbies), most banks also offer long donor essays written by the donors themselves (10-15 pages), personality profiles written by psychological experts, staff impression reports (whether the donor was friendly, polite or good looking), photographs of the donor as a baby (up to six years old), and some banks also offer adult photographs of the donors. Most also offer audio clips where you can listen to a donor answer a series of set questions, from what they think of George Bush to what they’d like to achieve in their futures. Most of the banks also offer a photo matching facility, where you can send in a series of photographs of your partner, or yourself, or both of you, and ask that they match a donor to the pictures.

Most donors in the US, identity release or otherwise, are Caucasian from European descent but their heritage is described in some details, for example, whether their mother was of Dutch, German descent and their father of Irish British descent. There are also a number of Asian, African-American, South American and mixed-race donors to choose from.

The hurdles
Perhaps the biggest hurdle to going the overseas route is a financial one. It is much more expensive to go this route. Although each bank differs (see listings of banks) you are looking at between $250 - $450 just for one vial of sperm. The price is cheaper for unwashed intracervical specimens from anonymous donors and becomes the most expensive if you’re wanting to purchase washed intrauterine specimens from identity-release donors. There is also a shipping fee. The sperm banks in the US make use of FedEx International but their shipping prices vary from about $550 - $660 for one shipment. Because you might need to be inseminated more than once before you fall pregnant, it is recommended that you purchase at least 6 vials of semen to be shipped at one go. Most fertility clinics in South Africa have storage facilities although you would have to check whether or not they were able and prepared to receive and store vials for you. There is also a deposit required on the nitrogen vapour tank, which is refunded to you on its safe return. This also varies from bank to bank from $500-$1100. So really if you’re looking to ship six vials of identity-release sperm from the States, excluding the tank deposit, and the exchange rate is sitting at R7 to $1, you are looking at roughly R20 000 – R25 000, excluding airport taxes and clinic insemination fees.

Ideally one day South Africa will offer an identity-release donor option eliminating the expensive need to go abroad. But this does not appear to an option anytime soon.

Logistically, being so far away from the sperm bank, it is a worry that the ‘goods’ might not arrive intact. The sperm banks are not held responsible for what happens to the goods in transit, nor will your clinic take any responsibility until they receive the shipment. The sperm banks do guarantee that the goods will remain frozen for between 7-10 days, and it should take between 3-5 days for it to get from the States to your given address. However, if there are serious hold-ups at customs you will not be refunded should everything melt! But as far as the custom laws are concerned, there are no restrictions on shipping uninfected human semen into South Africa, so ideally this won’t be a problem.
Another consideration of buying in bulk and shipping, is the fact that you cannot change your mind as to which donor you are using. If you are struggling to fall pregnant, you do not as easily have the option to switch donors. For this reason, it is best to buy from donors who’ve reported at least one successful pregnancy.

Sperm banks
There are numerous sperm banks in the States but only a limited number who are prepared to ship to South Africa. You will need to contact them directly. Each has a comprehensive website that offers information on fees and rates, a donor catalogue and what information is available for each donor. Some of this information is free and some of it (like personality profiles and baby photos) comes at a fee. Once you have chosen your donor, you will need to register on the site by faxing or mailing a number of forms that include your personal information and a signed ‘Authorization for release of Semen’ from your health practitioner. These forms can all be printed off from the website. Some banks charge a registration fee of $100, others do not. Once you have registered, you can place an order, either over the Internet or telephonically, although banks do urge you to phone to confirm all orders. They accept all credit cards.

It is unfortunately not an option to go to the sperm bank yourself and bring the goods back with you, in an attempt to save money. Commercial passenger flights do not allow liquid nitrogen on board.

Below is a listing of sperm banks in the US who are prepared to ship sperm to South Africa. These are also banks that have been recommended in many lesbian conception books and who have a reputation for being ‘lesbian friendly’. These banks also all offer identity-release donors.

Fairfax Cryobank (branches in Austin, Fairfax and Philadelphia)
Visit www.fairfaxcryobank.com
This is a user-friendly site that offers lots of information on donors. The Cape Fertility Clinic has successfully used this bank before. Prices are on the upper end scale although they appear to be very professional. They only offer Caucasian identity-release donor options.

The Californian Cryobank (situated in Los Angeles, California)
Visit www.cryobank.com
This is one of the largest sperm banks in the US. There are a number of donors on this site including mixed race, and identity-release donors. There is a lot of information available on all donors. Prices are on the more expensive side but they were quick to reply to emails and offered great advice.

The Sperm Bank of California (situated in Berkeley, California)
Visit www.thespermbankofca.org
This is one of the only non-profit sperm banks in the US. Prices are lower than other sperm banks (roughly $100 cheaper per vial) and staff is warm and friendly. They did take a little longer replying to emails than other banks but eventually supplied the information needed. They have less information on the donors than the other banks, no baby photos, etc. but still a great deal more information than the banks in South Africa.

The Pacific Reproductive Services (situated in San Francisco, California)
Visit www.pacrepro.com
This sperm bank offers the largest selection of identity-release donors in the US. They are reasonably priced, but are only prepared to ship to South Africa if you order and purchase 16 vials or more, making them a very expensive option.

Author:  Susan Newham