CMV status/Donors

[BabyBee37]

Hello All

Ia m really struggling to find a donor for IVF sperm banks here and the European sperm bank still seem to have limited to know options. Are others experiencing the same? My doctor also told me my CMV Status being negative limits my options some what. Have others in the same boat also found that. Feel daunted by the whole thing!

[AracLl]

Hello,I'm also CMV negative. We really struggled to find a suitable sperm donor with ESB. In the end, we had to compromise and choose a donor we wouldn't ordinarily have chosen.

I would suggest that when you find one, you buy a few straws because it takes a long while for them to come back into stock.

The struggle to find a suitable donor did cause a delay in our treatment unfortunately.

The NHS wouldn't let us use anyone that wasn't CMV negative but the private clinic told us we could use them although it came with a small added risk.

All the best x

[Twiglet2]

Yeah I am CMV negative but choose a CMV positive donor as none on ESB also matched the health and feature criteria we had. You don’t actually come into contact with the sperm for IVF so my research showed the risk as practically non existent. And given women have sex every day with men not knowing their CMV status this also swung it for me! We have a healthy 16 month old from that donor x

[BabyBee37 in reply to Twiglet2]

Thank you soo much! So lovely to hear x

[Missfh]

I ended up widening my search to include USA sperm banks, I ended up using Xytex but Fairfax also had some decent options.

It is alarming that you start out looking at a database of tens of thousands and literally enter just a few criteria and it goes down to ones and twos. Very frustrating Xx

[BabyBee37 in reply to Missfh]

Thank soo much, I haven’t looked at Fairfax. Exactly! one search criteria takes soo many options out it’s wild. X

[Bigbadbadger1]

I am CMV negative and ended up using a positive donor- my clinic allowed this if I signed a disclaimer. A lot of clinics don't ask about CMV status now (so I'm told); I believe that there has not been any instance of donor sperm transmitting CMV as it is washed and quarantined, and comes from a donor without an active infection.Having said this, if your clinic insist on it, you will eventually find the right one for you- don't give up hope. I've heard some people suggest emailing the bank as they may have some in quarantine that is ready soon and you can be first to get it. Good luck!

[Bungleboo]

Hey, I am CMV neg and used a CMV pos donor. Had to sign a disclaimer with clinic indicating I accepted the (negligible) risk. I have a very healthy two year old!