You’ve had genetic testing done, either prenatally or while pregnant, and find out you’re a carrier for a genetic disease. Now what? Results like this can be overwhelming, difficult to understand, and raise a lot of complicated questions. Before you start typing the name of that genetic disease in Google, check to see if the company that completed your test has a genetic counselor on staff to help you interpret your results. Most genetic testing companies have genetic counselors available for consultations to address specific questions about you, your partner, the diseases on your report, and anything else you might need to know. If that isn’t an option, ask your OB-GYN or midwife about your options for genetic counseling.

Before my husband and I started trying to conceive, we both had genetic testing done to determine our carrier status. My results came back positive for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, a disease I had never heard of before. We’ll go through some of the most commonly asked questions about being a carrier and use my report and experiences as an example. 

What does being a carrier for a genetic disease mean for you: What is your risk for getting sick?

Smith-Lemli-Opitz is a recessive disease. In order to be affected (sick) with a recessive disease, an individual needs two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent. As a carrier, I only have one copy of the gene and am therefore unaffected. I do not have any symptoms of this disease, and I never will. Note the last sentence of the interpretation section of my report below: 

For a dominant genetic disease, such as Marfan syndrome or Huntington’s disease, only one copy of the mutated gene is needed in order to cause the disease. Individuals who have one mutated gene for a dominant disease will have the disease or will be at an increased risk for having the disease. Dominant conditions are not included in the carrier screening panels people have done before they have children. These diseases are typically tested only on people who are already showing symptoms of the disease. In this case, a special test is ordered by their provider for the purpose of diagnosing that specific disease. 

What does being a carrier for a genetic disease mean for your children: What is the risk of having a sick child?

If one parent is a carrier of a recessive disease and the other parent is negative, the child has a 50% chance of becoming a healthy carrier of the disease. For example, my husband tested negative for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, so our child has a 50% chance of inheriting one defective gene from me. Our child would then be an asymptomatic carrier, just like myself. In this situation, there is an extremely low risk of the child inheriting one copy of the defective gene from each parent, and thus an extremely low risk of having the disease. Why is this risk not zero? I’ll cover that in the next question. 

If both parents are carriers of a recessive disease, the child has a 25% chance of inheriting the defective gene from both parents and thus having the disease. The child has a 50% chance of becoming an asymptomatic carrier with one copy of the defective gene, and a 25% chance of inheriting no copies of the defective gene. 

If one parent has an affected gene for a dominant disease, the child has a 50% chance of inheriting that dominant gene. If a child inherits one gene for a dominant genetic disease, that child would have the disease or would be at an increased risk for having the disease. 

If I test negative, does that mean I am definitely not a carrier?

The short answer is NO: even if you test negative, there is still a small chance that you might be a carrier for that disease. A negative result reduces your risk, but it does not eliminate your risk. This is because no genetic test has a 100% detection rate; meaning, no genetic test can detect every single person who is a carrier for a genetic disease. The detection rate varies based on the disease tested, with a range generally between 70 and 99 percent. The rarer the disease, the lower the detection rate. The risk varies depending on ethnic background; in cystic fibrosis, for example, the risk of being a carrier is higher for Caucasians than it is for Latinos. 

A positive result, however, means that you absolutely carry that genetic disease. A positive result is 100% accurate.

This idea of risk even with a negative result can feel very counter-intuitive. What’s the point of getting genetic testing if it can’t tell me my negative carrier status with 100% confidence? Let’s walk through an example together for Cystic Fibrosis to understand how knowing your reduced risk may still be helpful.

In this example, the mother is a carrier of the cystic fibrosis gene, and the Caucasian father tests negative. A negative test result means that the father still has a 1/440 chance of being a carrier for cystic fibrosis because the genetic test only detects 95% of positives. Even though the father still has a small risk of being a carrier, his negative genetic test reduces their risk of having a child with cystic fibrosis to less than 1/10th of 1 percent. 

When we repeat this example with a Latino father, the risk drops even lower because Latinos are less likely to be carriers of cystic fibrosis than Caucasians. 

Do my children need to worry if I am a carrier for a genetic disease?

According to Fairfax Cryobank genetic counselor Suzanne Seitz, the vast majority of people who have this testing find out that they’re a carrier for something. “Having a positive result is not unexpected,” she says. “We all can be carriers for several genetic conditions, and this should not be a surprise.” Our children do have some risk of inheriting the recessive genes and being carriers depending on their parents’ status, but as a carrier of only one copy of the gene, they will stay healthy. 

“It only matters if we are a carrier for the same condition our partner is a carrier for,” says Suzanne. My son has a 50% chance of being a carrier for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, but since my husband tested negative for that disease he has an extremely low risk of inheriting the gene from both of us. When my son decides to have children, he and his partner should undergo genetic testing to make sure they are not both carriers for the same disease. If they are, their OB-GYN and genetic counselor can help create the best reproductive plan for them.

When is the ideal time to have genetic carrier testing done?

 “Timing is important,” says Suzanne. “Start early. If you have your testing done several months before you start trying to get pregnant, you will have enough time to process the information, avoid stress, stay in control, and make the choices that will help you have a healthy child. If I do find out I am a carrier, that will leave me plenty of time to get my partner tested.” If using an egg or a sperm donor, you can find one that has already tested negative for a specific disease. With the help of the egg or sperm bank, you can also coordinate additional testing done if he or she has not yet been tested for the disease in question. “That way,” Suzanne says, “when you start trying to conceive, these questions about carrier status will already be addressed.”

For more information on genetic testing and Fairfax Cryobank’s genetic services, please visit our resource page!

For those in need of donor sperm, the first step in your family-building journey will be selecting a sperm bank you can trust, one that has thorough screening, extensive and diverse donor selection, and a helpful Client Services team. Since 1986, Fairfax Cryobank has been the trusted source for donor sperm, providing the highest-quality sperm to help grow healthy families around the globe. 

The next step of choosing a sperm donor is one of the most important decisions a person can make on their journey to parenthood. It takes three things to create a child: an egg, sperm, and a uterus. Many families are created using donor egg, donor sperm, or a gestational carrier to provide the uterus.  

Fairfax Cryobank Evolved to Meet Changing Pandemic Needs 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to alter and affect our lives, adding to a tough year, Fairfax Cryobank has seen prospective parents growing their families as moments of joy. Despite the hardships happening around the world, people are still looking to grow their families. Those privileged to have flexible work from home careers may find this is an optimal time to go through fertility treatments and care for a newborn. 

Fairfax Cryobank and the fertility industry have been incredibly busy as we have seen an increase in client engagement and donor sperm orders. 

As with so many other workplaces, at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, we paused operations to assess the safety and to put measures in place to ensure that our staff, clients, and donors were not at risk. We adapted and implemented measures to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread. We are screening and testing our donors, have contactless interactions with all persons who enter our facilities, are following all recommendations from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), and are confident that we are providing the highest quality, best-tested donor sperm to our clients, as we have done for over 35 years. Because of these measures, Fairfax Cryobank is not experiencing a shortage of donors or available donor sperm; that said we are always working to increase our pool of sperm donors to meet the needs of our diverse client population. 

Benefits of Working with Fairfax Cryobank, the Trusted Source for Donor Sperm 

When you work with Fairfax Cryobank, you have the choice of over 450 quality sperm donors. Growing your family with Fairfax Cryobank, the trusted source for donor sperm since 1986, means you know you are choosing a sperm donor who has been thoroughly vetted through a background check, psychological evaluation, had their educational transcript and/or diploma verified, completed multiple rounds of infectious disease testing and genetic disease screening. You also have the assurance that the sample you are receiving has been through multiple checks for quality. In addition, you also ensure the clear legal parentage of your child as each donor signs an agreement with Fairfax Cryobank to relinquish all parental rights.   

When you work with someone outside of the controlled and regulated process of a sperm bank, there is a greater risk of inaccurate information being shared, risk of infectious disease, and lack of legal protections, state legislation varies regarding establishing parentage. Working with a trusted, proven, and FDA certified sperm bank takes the worry out of your journey. 

Use Fairfax Cryobank to Screen Your Known Sperm Donor 

If you would like to work with a Known or Directed Donor, such as a friend or relative of the non-egg provider in a couple, Fairfax Cryobank can guide you through this process. We can provide the same top-notch sample evaluation, processing, and freezing, along with the infectious disease testing and documentation required by the FDA for your medical professional that is completed for our standard new sperm donor screening. Our team can also facilitate genetic screening. In addition to the services provided by Fairfax Cryobank, we strongly recommend that you work with a lawyer to complete an agreement with the donor that outlines parental rights, relationship expectations, etc. 

Fairfax Cryobank is here for you through your journey to building your family. Start your donor search today or contact Client Services with any questions. 

Heather Has Two Mommies is back in a new light. From the inspiration of the 1989 classic Heather Has Two Mommies, written by Lesléa Newman with illustrations by Diana Souza has been revitalized by Newman with a new illustrator, Laura Cornell. This lovable picture book was one of the first pieces of LGBTQ+ children’s literature to garner broad attention. Readers are captured by the love between Heather and her two mommies, Mama Jane and Mama Kate. The main theme focusing on the idea that no matter how different a family looks, love is an important thing to have to create a family.

It is Heather’s first day of school and she’s sad to leave her two best friends behind, a ginger-colored cat named Gingersnap and a big black dog named Midnight. But she is comforted by Mama Jane and Mama Kate’s reassuring words and her favorite blue blanket. Her first day of school is filled with new friends and a new project for her family. This children’s book is sure to help your child understand the idea that even though not all families look the same, they are still a family.

Coupled with Laura Cornell’s illustrations, Lesléa Newman’s story is brought to life. Newman’s choice of words and narrative makes it easy to understand the topic of non-nuclear families, while also expressing the importance of acceptance for LGBTQ families.

Heather Has Two Mommies is a must to have in your child’s library. For more information on this book or to purchase, check out their Amazon page here.

Fairfax Cryobank is honored to be part of your family building story, regardless of sexual orientation. Learn more about how Fairfax Cryobank supports our LGBTQ+ families here.

Guest Blogger, Christina Barnes, explains the importance of semen analysis and what it means for you and your growing family

If you’ve heard the term “semen analysis,” you might correctly assume that this is a test that evaluates an individual’s semen. Your doctors may tell you that a semen analysis can help pinpoint any causes of male infertility and that having one done is a key step in understanding and treating male fertility issues. This is all good to know, but what exactly is a semen analysis? The semen analysis looks at many different characteristics of the sperm and semen sample, with normal reference ranges from the World Health Organization (WHO) listed below. These reference ranges are helpful when comparing results to what is normal, but what exactly does this “normal” number mean? What are all of the different parts of semen that need to be analyzed? What is viscosity, and why is it better for this value to be lower? What is the difference between total sperm number and concentration of sperm? What are round cells, and why do these matter? 

If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions while trying to read through your semen analysis results, or if you haven’t had one done but want to know what it’s all about, then this article is for you. We’ll go through each of the categories of a semen analysis and talk about what it is, why it’s important, and what those normal values mean. 

Semen Analysis: WHO Normal Reference Ranges

Specimen Volume            ≥ 1.5 ml (milliliter)

Concentration               ≥ 15 M/ml (million per milliliter)

Total Sperm Number          ≥ 39 M/ejaculate            

Initial Motility                ≥ 40%

Initial Grade                ≥ 2.5

Viscosity                   < 2 (1 = Low, 4 = High)

Round Cells                < 5 per HPF (High Powered Field)

Morphology                 ≥ 4 % Normal Forms 

Specimen Volume

Specimen volume is the total amount of ejaculate that a man produces with one emission. The ejaculate contains sperm in addition to other fluids created by the male reproductive organs. These additional fluids act as a carrier for the sperm, helping them to swim and move towards their intended target. 

The normal volume for the total amount of ejaculate, including both sperm and non-sperm fluids, is equal to or greater than 1.5 milliliters (mL). For reference, one teaspoon is equal to 5 mL. So if a man has an orgasm and produces 2 mL of ejaculate, he would be producing a normal specimen volume. 

If a man produces a high specimen volume, does that automatically mean that he produces a large amount of sperm? Not necessarily. The number for the specimen volume does not take into account the amount of sperm versus the number of other fluids in the ejaculate; the specimen volume only looks at the total of both parts. In order to determine if the number of sperm in a sample is adequate, you have to look at concentration and total sperm number in the sample.

Concentration

The normal concentration of sperm in a sample is greater than or equal to 15 million sperm per 1 mL of ejaculate. This means that for every 1 mL of ejaculate, you ideally want to see at least 15 million sperm present. Remember that ejaculate is composed of both sperm and other non-sperm fluids produced by the male reproductive organs. 

An individual can have a high specimen volume, such as 3 or 4 mL of ejaculate, but still have a low concentration of sperm. If that individual has 4 mL of ejaculate but only 9 million sperm per mL of ejaculate, this would be a low concentration of sperm. Knowing the amount of ejaculate alone will not give you the concentration number. A large amount of ejaculate does not necessarily mean a high concentration of sperm. 

Individuals can have low sperm concentration in the ejaculate due to retrograde ejaculation, absence of the vas deferens, or other issues that cause obstruction in the body parts that carry the sperm through the reproductive organs. Think of the concentration of ejaculate as consisting of two parts: sperm and other bodily fluids. If anything gets in the way of the sperm being able to mix with the other body fluids, the concentration of the sperm in those body fluids will be low.  

Total Sperm Number

Total sperm number is as simple as it sounds: the total number of sperm in one total ejaculation. This number is calculated by counting all of the sperm in a sample, regardless of sample size. The normal number for total sperm count is greater than or equal to 39 million sperm per ejaculate. 

Initial Motility

Initial motility looks at the percentage of sperm in a sample that is motile, or capable of motion. Ideally, an individual would want greater than or equal to 40% of the sperm in the sample to be in motion. 

There are two types of sperm motility: progressive and non-progressive. Progressive motility is when the sperm makes active progress in its movement, either in a straight line or a circle. The sperm is capable of moving from one point to another, regardless of speed. Non-progressive motility is when the sperm is moving, but not able to travel in a way that makes progress from one point to another. A non-progressive sperm could be moving its tail but unable to swim. 

When examining a semen sample, the technician will generally calculate total motility, which is progressive and non-progressive motility together. They will also look at the percentage of only progressively motile sperm. Higher progressive motility rates are related to higher rates of pregnancy. 

Initial Grade

           Sperm are categorized into four different “grades” based on motility:

• Grade 1: Immotile: do not move at all
• Grade 2: Non-progressive motility: moving, but unable to make progress in any direction
• Grade 3: Non-linear motility: able to move forward, but does not travel in a straight line
• Grade 4: Progressive motility: travel in a straight line

Viscosity

Viscosity is a measure of the semen’s resistance to flow; the thicker the semen, the less likely it will be to flow. Maple syrup, for example, has a higher viscosity than water. Semen viscosity is graded on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least viscous (thinner) and 4 being the most viscous (thicker). A normal level of viscosity is less than 2. Semen that is too thick may impair the sperm’s ability to move. 

Round Cells

Round cells are cells in the semen sample that are not sperm: for example, round cells can be skin cells, white blood cells, and individual sperm heads or tails. The presence of round cells may indicate an underlying problem, such as inflammation of the accessory glands or testicular damage. The fewer round cells in a sample, the better. 

Morphology

Sperm morphology refers to the physical form of the sperm; in other words, the size and shape of the sperm. When studying the sperm morphology in a sample, the technician looks at the size, shape, and any physical defects of the sperm under a microscope. Sperm can have defects of the head, midpiece, and/or tail. Examples of defects in sperm morphology include:

• A head that is too big, too small, too narrow, or too wide
• A neck that is bent, too thick, or too thin
• A tail that is too short, bent, or coiled

The percentages of normal and abnormal sperm cells in a sample are calculated. A normal, healthy sample has greater than or equal to 4% normal sperm cells; it would be expected to see more abnormal sperm than normal sperm.  

For more information on semen analysis, explore these resources:

What’s in the Numbers: Explaining the Post Thaw Motility and Total Motile Cells

What’s in the Shape: Sperm Morphology

It is a new year, and it is the time a lot of people are looking at their health and how to live a healthier lifestyle. As a new mom, it can be a difficult task to balance taking care of your newborn and yourself simultaneously. The idea that you could ever get back into your normal workout routine, pre-baby seems impossible! For a little push and inspiration, we have put together a list of workouts and workout routines that you can (try) to fit into your new mommy schedule.

5 Simple Exercise Hacks for New Moms

From stroller lunges to toothbrush squats. These 5 exercise hacks are perfect for the new mom that does not have time to think, let alone do a 30-minute cardio routine.

7 Exercises to Do with Baby

Your newborn baby is already attached to your hip, might as well include them in your workout routine. Mom and baby will love doing these exercises together.

10-Minute Beginner’s Workout: Perfect Postpartum Exercises for Moms and Babies

No equipment is necessary for this workout! This beginner workout is great for any new mom. With step-by-step pictures and instructions, you will be on your way to reaching your health goals.

The Tracy Anderson Weight Loss Workout for New Moms

Join American fitness entrepreneur and author, Tracey Anderson, and her easy to do workouts for new moms! Just grab your yoga mat and some small weights, and you will be feeling like your old self in no time.

Quick & Easy Fitness for Tired Moms

There is. not a new mom in the world that isn’t tired. These quick and easy workout routines are perfect for tired moms anywhere and everywhere.

It’s ok to take some time for you this new year! Fairfax Cryobank is thrilled to help our families with any goals they might have. From starting a new family to selecting their perfect sperm donor. Learn more about getting started with Fairfax Cryobank

I have always known that motherhood was in my future, though I usually imagined it being preceded by falling in love and getting married. Yet, as I entered my thirties still single (despite having dated throughout my twenties), I decided to take matters into my own hands and move forward with having a baby on my own.

There is a lot that goes into making a baby solo, but one of the biggest decisions I had to make was choosing a sperm donor.

Choosing a sperm donor is an overwhelming and surreal experience already, but making that *literally* life-altering decision on your own can be a lot of pressure. It is also a process that few people experience, and therefore one that most people can’t relate to (but one that people are fascinated by!).

The actual search is eerily similar to online dating.

With both, each man has a profile with a picture (baby photo for the donors, though some Fairfax donors also have adult photos), basic statistics (hair color, eye color, height), and a personal profile. You can narrow down the pool by inputting your preferences into the search tool. Like dating, the initial search can be quite superficial based on first impressions – under 5’10”? Goodbye. Red hair? Nope. Unflattering photo? No thanks.

Of course, choosing a donor is a much more significant decision with a lifelong impact. After all, this will be where half of your child’s DNA comes from. No pressure or anything… ? Naturally, when choosing a donor there is a lot to consider.

1. Sperm Bank: There are hundreds of sperm banks out there, from large, for-profit establishments to smaller non-profits. I ultimately settled on Fairfax Cryobank because of the selection of donors, reputation, and recommendation from my fertility center.

2. ID vs. Non-ID: Previously called “Anonymous,” Non-ID donors are just that – anonymous. There are also ID donors. These donors have agreed to release their information and be open to contact from the children conceived with their sperm once the child(ren) turns 18.

I personally opted to go with an ID donor. I wanted to give my child the opportunity to reach out and learn more about where they came from if they choose to do so. I am aware that by using a donor, my son will grow up not knowing about one half of his DNA family. I imagine he will have questions, and I think it is only fair to give him the opportunity to get those questions answered. Whether or not he takes it, is up to him.

3. Medical Considerations: My family is filled with heart problems – high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attacks, oh my! Because of this, a big consideration when choosing my donor was their medical history, particularly heart issues.

Luckily, Fairfax does a whole slew of medical and genetic testing, as well as a comprehensive family history. You can look back at their parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, and uncles and check for any red flags (can’t do that when dating!). This makes it easier to weed out donors with certain medical conditions that are incompatible with your own medical history and predispositions.

4. Physical Characteristics: Blonde or brunette, brown eyes or blue, tall or short…there is a wide range of physical characteristics among the selection of donors. Since I was choosing to be a single parent, I consciously chose a donor with similar features and ancestry as myself.

5. Personality Characteristics: I struggled with this one. How much does personality matter in a donor? How much of personality is nature vs. nurture? Does it matter if they are an outgoing jock or a quiet bookworm? Ultimately, I decided that what matters most to me is that they are overall a good person. That when my child asks, “Why him?” I have an answer that goes beyond, he was a cute baby, or he was really tall. I wanted to choose someone who I can relate to in some way, who I feel is a good, honest, kind person.

6. Prioritizing: With so many things to consider, it is easy to become VERY overwhelmed, VERY quickly. Talking things out with a trusted and respected friend or family member can help you figure out what is truly important to you in a donor. And, if you are like me, spreadsheets are not only a fun way to organize your potential options but can lay things out in an easy to see and compare way.

(Any identifying information in the above chart has been removed to protect the identities of the donors; photos are generic stock photos)

It took a lot of soul searching and deliberating and eliminating several donors that I really liked, but I finally landed on Donor 3291 (not his real number) – a tall, English/Dutchman with a deep, Southern drawl and kind heart. He matched the physical characteristics and health criteria I was looking for, but it was his audio interview that really sealed the deal for me. Listening to him speak about his childhood and his outlook on life, I knew in my gut that this was the one.

In the end, whichever donor you choose, your baby will be perfect because it will be your baby. Any hesitations and doubts will vanish when you see this incredible human you created. So in the meantime, grab a glass of wine and maybe a friend or two, and start searching!

-Kelly and Ethan

IG: @solomama34

For more information on how Fairfax Cryobank supports the dreams of single mothers by choice visit our Single Mothers by Choice resource page.

You might have noticed a change or two to the online Fairfax Family Forum, or you might not even know what the online Fairfax Family Forum is! Either way, welcome! The Fairfax Family Forum was created to provide a space for our Fairfax Families to interact with their mutual experiences. Whether it is for advice on picking a donor or connecting with other users over a shared sperm donor, this online forum is a place to connect.  

Fairfax Cryobank is thrilled to bring our clients a platform to join the community and learn. Read on to learn more about the new and improved online Fairfax Family Forum. 

 1. Single Sign-On  

Fairfax wanted our forum users to have a seamless experience. That is why we decided to integrate a single sign-on. What exactly is single sign-on? Single sign-on allows users to have one sign-in account that will give you access to your Fairfax Cryobank account and allow you to sign-into the Fairfax Family Form. Below is a picture of the button you would push when entering the forum after you have signed into your Fairfax Cryobank account– giving you complete access to the forum.  

2. Categories 

The first page you will see when you sign into the forum is the Categories page, which displays the main discussion boards.  These discussion boards can range from “Fairfax Cryobank News,” which includes recent blog posts, new donors, events, and updates announcements, to the “Share Your Story,” where Fairfax Families share their pregnancy stories. We welcome new and old users to explore and discuss any topics that can help on their journey to building their own Fairfax Family or connecting with their donor groups! 

3. Search Box 

The search box will become your new best friend! When you look to the top right of the forum page, you will see the search box where you can type in anything from “fertility” to “single moms by choice.” This will pull up a full list of discussion topics relating to the word you typed in. You might even learn something new from the search results! 

4. Private Groups  

At Fairfax Cryobank we love to see our Fairfax Families connect and share their stories. We created a space for these Fairfax Families to privately connect over a shared donor. These private groups are in “Groups” under the “Quick Links” category on the right sidebar.  

To join a private group, simply search for the donor group you wish to join, and press “Join”. This will then prompt you to add some extra information allowing the Fairfax team to verify that you have either had a child with this donor or have verified a pregnancy with this donor. If you do not see the donor you are looking for, please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com. 

5. Starting a Discussion 

There are so many discussions that have already been started in the forum, but you might not find exactly what you are looking for. Start a discussion under a relevant category to start connecting with other users! To do this, enter a category that is connected to your discussion topic, then click “New Discussion” at the top right of your screen. Seen below: 

You will then be brought to a page that will allow you to create a subject for your discussion and a section for any other extra comments you might have. Seen below: 

You will also see options to add emojis, pictures, links, and attachments! Once you have typed in your discussion, press “Post Discussion” and you are set to have other users interact and comment on your post.  

6. Your Profile  

To view your forum personal profile, find your avatar at the top of the right side of your page and click “View Profile”. 

You will then be navigated to your profile. Here you will find discussions and comments you have posted and any notifications you might receive. Feel free to also change your default avatar by clicking your current avatar and pressing “Change Icon”. Your profile page will also list – reactions and badges you have received during your time on the forum. Badges are a fun new feature that users can receive through interacting in the forum. For example, users can receive a badge for mentioning another user in their post or giving out 5 likes or hearts to different comments and discussions. Try to get as many as possible to add to your collection! 

7. Reactions 

Our new forum platform also gives our users the power to react to posts. Users will now be able to like, agree, disagree, and LOL at any post or comment. We are also giving our users the ability to “Flag” posts that they think could be inappropriate or harmful to other users. These “Flagged” posts are reviewed by moderators and dealt with accordingly. See below for all the great reaction options and sharing options you will now have! 

8. Personal Messaging  

There are some messages that you might not want to share with other users in the forum. For these types of messages, the forum gives you the option to privately message another user. To locate these messages, find your avatar in the top right and click on the envelope icon. Seen below: 

You will then be shown your most recent messages and an option to view “all messages”. Press this option to view your full inbox. To create a new message to another user, visit that user’s profile and press “Message.

9. Recent Activity  

See what new badges your friends and other users are receiving in the “Activity” section of the forum. This is a great place to view what new members have joined the forum and see “This Week’s Leaders”. To make it on the leader board, interact more with other users, react to other user’s comments, and start discussions. This is also a terrific way to receive more badges that are proudly shown on your profile.  

10. Bookmarks 

Too busy to read all your favorite posts but don’t want to search for them again? Use the bookmark feature to save discussions and comments you want to view later or just to keep forever. To bookmark, find your favorite post or discussion and click the star to the right of the subject of the post. Seen below: 

After bookmarking the posts, you can then view them where your bookmarked posts are stored. To find this, click the star next to your Avatar. Seen below: 

From here you will be able to click on any post to read or click “All Bookmarks” to see the full list of bookmarks.  

Fairfax Cryobank is so excited for our users to dive into this new forum. We hope this helps all our clients to connect and learn! If you are looking for more information on the Fairfax Family Forum or have any questions, please email us at forum@fairfaxcryobank.com.  

Register now at https://blogandforum.fairfaxcryobank.com/. 

A common question from our clients is, “how many tries are in a vial of donor sperm?” The short answer is that one vial equals one try.  

When a donor produces a semen sample, our staff completes a semen evaluation to determine the volume, count, motility, and other parameters. This data informs how the sample is best processed and frozen for your use. One sample is often split into multiple cryovials. 

Fairfax provides several preparations or “prep types” of the donor sperm: 

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a pre-washed sample, meaning that the seminal fluid is washed out of the sperm sample; this can be a simple wash or a gradient wash that allows the lab to separate highly motile sperm from non-sperm cells and debris that is normally found in semen samples. 

• Once washed, freeze media is added to the sample and frozen. IUI samples are used for IUI procedures where the sperm sample is thawed and inserted through the cervix into the uterus. 

Intracervical Insemination (ICI) ICI prep is frozen after analysis and the addition of the freeze media; these samples contain seminal fluid. The ICI prep samples are used for insemination in which the sample is placed onto the cervix. 

• An ICI vial can be washed by your clinic to be used for an IUI procedure. 

Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART), sometimes called In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) samples can be either IUI or ICI prepped. 

• ART samples are used for IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), as are the IVF prep vials. 

The Fairfax Specimen Standard for IUI and ICI vials is 10 million Total Motile Cells (TMC) in the vial, and IVF or ART vials have a minimum of 5 million TMC. ART vials have fewer sperm because ART procedures require fewer cells than insemination; > 6 million TMC. Some providers will combine two ART/IVF vials to do the insemination. 

As always, we recommend that you speak to your medical provider about your specific needs based on your fertility status. With no female infertility issues, under the age of 35, there is approximately a 20% chance of achieving pregnancy each month. Every so often a person will achieve pregnancy on their first try. It often takes several cycles of insemination before the procedure results in pregnancy.  

Most people choose to order 2-3 vials per order, others order several more because they are looking ahead and planning for a sibling using the same sperm donor. You can purchase and ship to your clinic or you can purchase and store at the Sperm Bank. Storing at the Sperm Bank allows you to return unused vials for a refund whereas storing off-site means you cannot return unused vials. 

Written by Fairfax Cryobank’s, Director of Operations and Laboratory Director, Michelle Ottey.

Fairfax Cryobank makes it easy for you to understand what type of donor sperm vial is correct for your type of insemination procedure. From home insemination to IVF, use the chart below to find what type of sperm preparation (IUI, ICI, ART, IVF) works for you!

For more information on what specimen type is right for you, visit our Specimen Information page.

Fairfax Cryobank creates sperm donor birth limits based on the application of several criteria. The infographic below is a representation of birth restrictions for donors in the United States and around the globe. Read on to learn more!

For more information on donor birth limits with Fairfax Cryobank visit our Sperm Donor Birth Limits resource page.

Your weight — whether too high or too low — can affect your ability to get pregnant. According to the United States Office on Women’s Health, being overweight or underweight can also cause problems during your pregnancy. Reaching a healthy weight can help you get pregnant and improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby.[1]

Am I at a healthy weight?

Body Mass Index (BMI): Screening tool that combines a person’s height and weight to determine if they fall into a healthy range. Try this BMI calculator

 *BMI Categories:                                                                                                                      

 Underweight = <18.5

 Normal weight = 18.5–24.9

 Overweight = 25–29.9

 Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

[*A weight that is too low can increase the risk of malnutrition, osteoporosis, and anemia. Carrying too much weight can lead to a variety of health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular problems.]

[1] https://www.womenshealth.gov/healthy-weight/weight-fertility-and-pregnancy)

Body Fat Percentage (BFP): Women who are exceptionally fit or those with an underweight BMI may also want to consider checking their BFP. Maintaining a healthy BFP can help maintain fertility. 

Our body’s fat, or adipose tissue, contains numerous cells that produce, regulate, and process hormones- including sex hormones like estrogen that play an important role in infertility.

Too little or too much body fat can disrupt your body’s natural production of sex hormones. Hormone irregularities can cause ovulation irregularities.

Ask your medical provider about how to determine your percentage or check out this link.

UNDERWEIGHT: Being underweight (BMI 18.5 or less) or having an extra low body fat percentage (<17%) can cause your body to make less estrogen. This can cause irregularity in menstrual cycles. You may stop ovulating and getting your period.

To get pregnant, you need adequate estrogen to ovulate (or release an egg from the ovary) so it can be fertilized by sperm. Your body then needs elevated levels of estrogen to be able to support a developing baby in the womb.

OVERWEIGHT: Our ovaries create estrogen, and as we learned above- our body’s fat, or adipose tissue, also makes estrogen. As we gain weight, our fat cells grow and release more estrogen. Too much natural estrogen can prevent you from ovulating and/or having a monthly period. 

What can I do to reach a healthy body weight?

First, consult with a healthcare provider. He or she will consider all factors, including your age and health conditions (such as PCOS or thyroid disorder) before making any specific recommendations, including lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery. 

Diet and exercise changes should occur before attempting to conceive. Remember, sudden and extreme gains or losses can be detrimental to your body and your fertility.

Set reasonable goals: Even a modest weight gain or loss of 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight is likely to produce health benefits, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars.

Use Tech: Try food tracking apps like MyFitnessPal or MyPlate and measure your daily activity and exercise with a fitness tracker like FitBit.

Accountability: Recruit your partner or find a buddy for moral support. Do healthy activities together such as cooking or taking walks around your neighborhood.

Research: Check out reputable sources for up-to-date information and ideas on weight gain or loss. Look for guidance at government websites like CDC or NIH, medical information websites like the Mayo Clinic and news sources like New York Times.

Self-Care: Be kind to yourself. Minimize stress. Get better sleep. Do the things you love to do. Establish routines that allow you to reach your goals on your terms- not someone else’s. Take time to reflect on the good things and be happy.

By Kate Wisda, PRS Nurse Practitioner

For more articles like this and updates on Fairfax Cryobank, subscribe to our monthly newsletter today!

We are so excited for one of our favorite YouTube families, The Ensign Fam! Watch their Youtube video to learn how they got pregnant through home insemination using Fairfax Cryobank donor sperm.

From Abbie Ensign @abbie.ensign

“Thanks @FairfaxCryobank for helping me grow my family ❤️ I get a lot of questions about what our process was, so I just uploaded a new video on our channel if you want to check it out. Fairfax is a great place to start if you’re looking to add to your family! #fairfaxcryobank #fairfaxfamily #ad”

From Julia Ensign @julia.ensign

“Are you sick of all our pregnancy posts yet? I’m not! I can’t stop staring at the first picture of our beautiful little baby. Thank you @FairfaxCryobank for helping us become moms. We just uploaded a new video on our youtube channel (link in bio) explaining how we got pregnant, so if you’re thinking of commenting ‘how can you get pregnant without a man’ please watch that first ? #fairfaxcryobank #fairfaxfamily #ad”

To learn more about how Fairfax Cryobank supports LGBTX+ families on our resources page here.

Compare sperm banks and learn what sets Fairfax Cryobank apart

Finding the perfect sperm bank for you and your family is critical. It can be an overwhelming process, to find the best fit for you. Fairfax Cryobank prides itself on giving our clients the best quality sperm and donor quality of any other cryobank.

Fairfax has put together a chart to hopefully help your journey to pick a sperm bank a little easier.

From instant online access to a donor’s medical status, to our vial buy-back program. Fairfax Cryobank wants our clients to have a peace of mind when purchasing sperm from us.

The donor selection process can be an intimate process when growing your family. Fairfax Cryobank strives to share as much information as possible about donors to find your perfect match. The Fairfax FaceMatch® algorithm uses the shape of facial features to find a resemblance between the photo you upload and the adult photos of our donors. The sophisticated mathematical formulas compare two facial images. Learn more about the donor selection services here.

Less than 1% of donor applicants are accepted by Fairfax Cryobank. The screening process at Fairfax is intentionally designed to be extensive and excludes any applicant that does not meet our industry-leading standards. Fairfax Cryobank strives to provide the best quality donors for our clients because together we make a family.

Guest bloggers, Morgan & Wyatt, share their story and knowledge of Male Factor Infertility (MFI)

The biggest question we get when we tell people we are trying to conceive with the gift of donor sperm, is “why?”. On the road of infertility, people and often doctors typically look at the woman first as the one who “has the problem” for lack of a better word, and the man is usually the one looked at after all testing on the woman has been exhausted. However, male factor infertility (MFI) is actually a lot more common than people think.

We first started trying to get pregnant shortly after we were married in August of 2018, and after several unsuccessful months later as I was speaking to a friend about it, she mentioned it seemed like my husband could have low testosterone (he had low libido, extreme fatigue, and mood swings among other symptoms) and recommended I ask our doctor about it. We were lucky to have an amazing doctor who knew we had been trying for a bit, and instead of insisting we wait a year as most doctors will tell you, he agreed to check his testosterone along with a semen analysis. Of course, the results came back with low testosterone and the semen analysis comments were, “no sperm were identified in the initial evaluation” at that point, they centrifuged the sample, and saw “a low concentration of sperm” in the pellet. After the second analysis, the results were the same and we were referred to a urologist who specializes in MFI.

Our urologist did an entire workup and did some blood work to check and make sure there was not anything like a pituitary tumor or blockage, the results came back clear and we moved onto a TESE (testicular sperm extraction) procedure. The TESE is when the doctor makes a small incision in the testicle and obtains sperm directly from the tubules, however, because my husband had such low results from his sperm analysis, the TESE procedure was more for us to see if he even had any sperm to extract and use for IVF. Unfortunately, his procedure came back with, “not enough usable sperm” and we were then told our last hope would be a microTESE (microsurgical testicular sperm extraction) which is a far more complex type of surgical sperm retrieval compared to the TESE.

We had to wait three months after the TESE procedure to do the microTESE, and we had it scheduled for July of 2020. However, as we hung out in quarantine, we discussed together the chances our doctor gave us regarding finding sperm with the microTESE (we were given a less than 5% chance), the cost, and the pain it could cause us emotionally to be let down if nothing was found, we approached the idea of using a sperm donor to complete our family. During the months between April and July, we listed the pros and cons, talked for hours, and read and watched stories about others using a donor. When we finally decided on using a donor, we made the decision with clear minds, and open hearts, and we felt so at peace with the choice we made. We were finally on a more clear path to begin our family, and a future pregnancy and child felt closer than anything we have done in the past, our next step; finding a reputable cryobank and picking a donor.

Learn more about Morgan & Wyatt Honeyman’s journey on living with male infertility by following them on Facebook and Instagram.

For more information on how Fairfax Cryobank supports couples facing infertility, visit our resource page.

Pregnancy can be such an exciting time for new parents. It is also the time that your partner will need extra support while they are creating your new bundle of joy. Pregnancy can be intimidating for a new parent, they are feeling things they have never felt before, and their body is changing in ways they never imagined. Below are some tips on how to give them extra support throughout their pregnancy so they do not feel like they are in this alone.

• Go to doctors’ appointments with them without them asking for you to go.
• Change your lifestyle to mirror theirs. Try giving up caffeine and alcohol, so they do not feel like they are the only ones giving up what they love.
• Take on more responsibility around the house, like cooking and cleaning.
• Offer help and advice when it comes to making big decisions like prenatal tests, such as those for birth defects.
• Encourage and reassure them often, not just when they are down.
• Get excited when you go to birthing classes, so your partner does not view it as a chore.
• Create an open discussion about what each of you needs during the pregnancy. Whether it’s scheduled alone time, or what either of you finds important in your labor plan.
• Talk to your partner about what they want and need when it comes to being intimate with each other. They might want to be intimate more often, or not be intimate at all. Either way, try to be as supportive as possible.

Although your partner is the who is pregnant, this time is also about you. You are also going to be a new parent, so don’t forget to take time for yourself to prepare yourself for the future.

If you are pregnant from a Fairfax Cryobank sperm donor, don’t forget to report your pregnancy to Fairfax Cryobank, this helps us keep our records up to date for future Fairfax Families.

Looking to start a family? Start your donor search today!

New Mom, Christina Barnes, RN, shares what to expect when getting a Fetal Echocardiogram

When I was 24 weeks pregnant, I had a fetal echocardiogram. A fetal echocardiogram, also known as a fetal echo, is an ultrasound that looks specifically at the fetus’ developing heart. A pediatric cardiologist or specially trained ultrasound technician performs the test, and the results are generally discussed immediately afterward with the pediatric cardiologist. The test feels very similar to the 20-week anatomy scan; it is done using abdominal ultrasound in a dark room with images of the baby up on a screen. However, instead of looking at the entire baby, this test focuses on the structure and function of the heart. The provider will look at the walls and valves of the heart, as well as the blood vessels and arteries attached to the heart. The goal of the test is to check for heart defects in the fetus and any sign that the heart is not developing normally. The fetal echo is usually done in the second trimester, between 18 and 24 weeks gestation. 

Given my medical history, I was at an increased risk of having a baby with a heart defect. At my 20-week anatomy scan the high-risk OB-GYN reviewed the ultrasound images and told me that while she did not see any abnormalities of the heart, she still recommended that I have a fetal echocardiogram. She explained that the images from the 20-week scan show the overall structure of the heart but may not show the smaller details that could be associated with certain defects. If I were not at a higher risk based on my medical history, she would not have referred me for a fetal echo. However, since my medical history put my fetus at a higher than normal risk of developing a heart defect, she recommended the additional testing. The OB-GYN’s office sent over a referral to the pediatric cardiology department at the children’s hospital, and the cardiology department contacted me to schedule the procedure.

Fetal echocardiograms are recommended in a number of situations. If a possible abnormality of the heart is detected during a routine ultrasound, such as the 20-week anatomy scan, the provider will likely refer to the pregnant woman for a fetal echo. Women with a personal or family history of congenital heart defects or a previous child born with a heart defect may be referred for a fetal echo. Some medications taken by a pregnant mother can cause heart defects in a fetus, so if a woman takes any of those medications during pregnancy she may need a fetal echo to rule out any abnormalities. Medical conditions such as lupus and diabetes can affect fetal development and may cause heart defects, so women with these conditions often have a fetal echo.

On the day of my fetal echo, I was 24 weeks pregnant. My pregnancy had been largely uneventful; every appointment and scan thus far had been normal and when people asked me how I felt, I told them that I actually enjoyed being pregnant. I loved feeling the baby flutter and talking to him whenever we were alone. I was optimistic in the second trimester; we had made it through the morning sickness and the uncertainty of the first trimester, and I felt more attached to him every day. Throughout the pregnancy, I had been careful not to play out the many “what if” worst-case scenarios in my head: What if there’s something wrong on the anatomy scan? What if we don’t hear the heartbeat at the next appointment? I tried not to entertain these fears leading up to the fetal echo, but on the day of the procedure, I was incredibly anxious. What if there is something wrong with the heart? What if the baby needs surgery? The most difficult part for me was the uncertainty, and I knew I would feel better once the fetal echo was over.

 My fetal echo was scheduled in the afternoon at the outpatient cardiology clinic at the local pediatric hospital. I felt strange being the only adult patient in a waiting room full of children, but the woman at the front desk was unfazed and assured me that they see many pregnant women every day. After I checked in, a nurse brought me back into a dark room similar to the ultrasound rooms at my OB-GYN’s office. I climbed onto the exam table and tried to get comfortable. I, fortunately, did not need to have a full bladder for the scan, so I was able to use the restroom before we started.

I waited alone in the room for a few minutes, anxiously looking around at the equipment. There was a large television screen on the wall to my left, an ultrasound machine to my right, and a sink behind my chair. I could hear children in the hallway walking to and from their examination rooms, asking questions, and pointing out pictures on the walls. A young friendly physician came into the room and introduced herself as the pediatric cardiology fellow; she told me that she would be performing the fetal echocardiogram. She asked me to lie back on the table and uncover my stomach. She started by squeezing warm gel onto my abdomen and then gently moved and pushed the ultrasound wand over my belly. Images of the fetus lit up the television to my left and I watched the screen as she zoomed in and out, taking pictures and measuring parts of the heart and blood flow. Unlike the anatomy scan, she did not focus on the baby’s face, his tiny feet, or his wiggly hands. The physician-focused only on the heart and vessels, and for most of the scan, I couldn’t tell what I was looking at unless she carefully explained the images. The scan lasted about an hour, was completely painless, and if anything a little bit boring.

After the scan was over, I waited about 20 minutes for the cardiology fellow and supervising attending to review the fetal echo images. The fellow physician who did the scan brought me into the attending physician’s office, where they both discussed the findings with me. They explained what parts of the heart and vessels they focused on, what specific defects they wanted to rule out given my medical history, and whether or not they recommended any further fetal cardiac testing. They told me that my results were normal and that they did not find any evidence of a cardiac defect or abnormality. If they had found signs of a cardiac defect, they would have shared their plans for additional prenatal testing and/or medical interventions after birth. I prepared a list of questions for them beforehand, which they happily answered.

Overall, the fetal echo was a comfortable and painless experience. The most difficult part for me was waiting to hear the results, but once I spoke with the cardiologists I felt much better. It was important to me to know whether or not my baby would be born with a heart condition since he was at an increased risk of developing a cardiac defect. If he were to need cardiology care, my husband and I wanted to be prepared. We wanted to be able to process the information and develop a plan over the months leading up to the baby’s birth. Fortunately, our fetal echo results did not show a cardiac defect, and about 3 months later I delivered a healthy baby boy.

Check out Christina’s other post “Why I Chose to Have Genetic Testing Done”

Learn more about Home Insemination with donor sperm and if it’s right for you and your growing family

At-home insemination can be an affordable and more intimate way to get pregnant. It also can be a good 1st step for new parents trying to artificially inseminate themselves before choosing an in-office procedure with a medical procedure.

At-Home Insemination with Donor Sperm: An artificial insemination treatment that can be done in the comfort of one’s own home with Intracervial Insemination (ICI) donor sperm vials, as opposed to other procedures done within a medical facility.

The sperm sample is drawn into a needleless syringe, the syringe is inserted into the vagina, and the sperm is expelled onto the cervix. You can use either the ICI or Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) prepped samples for the home ICI.

This procedure can be most successful for those who do not have fertility issues. We do advise that you consult a medical professional who can discuss the best options for you and your future family.

Starting your journey to a family with advice from a medical professional will put you and your future family in the best position for a successful insemination.

Artificial insemination at home with do is a great option with donor sperm from Fairfax Cryobank. Get in touch with one of our members from our customer service team today to start your family’s journey.

Is Home Insemination right for you and your family?

Learn more about:

When the best time to inseminate is

What you’ll need to home inseminate

How to use donor sperm during home insemination

How many times you should perform at-home insemination

By reading our home insemination page here

New mom, Christina Barnes, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, shares why she chose to have genetic testing done before trying to conceive

My husband and I chose to have genetic testing done before we started trying to conceive. As excited as we were about becoming pregnant, we felt anxious about the fact that so much of conception and pregnancy was outside of our control. We are both planners, and we don’t feel good about making important decisions without first researching and organizing any and all relevant information (maybe sometimes a little too extensively). We like to know our risks, investigate what we can do to reduce those risks and have a plan to manage those risks. When it came to getting pregnant, the amount of information available on how to have a healthy pregnancy was overwhelming. What were the best foods to eat while trying to conceive? What activities should I avoid in the first trimester? What medications could harm the growing fetus? Perhaps most importantly, what (if anything) could I do to make sure my baby would be born happy and healthy? Each website seemed to have different answers to those questions, and I was usually left more confused at the end of these wild internet dives than when I started. Prenatal genetic testing gave us concrete information we could use to help us make decisions about conception and pregnancy.

 I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and I have worked with many amazing children and families in the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, as well as pediatric primary care and surgery clinics. A large part of my work has been caring for children with genetic diseases present at birth. I am always in awe of how strong, resilient, and capable children are, especially when faced with a debilitating illness. Part of my anxiety about becoming pregnant was my first-hand experience with children who have genetic diseases; I wanted to do everything I could to make sure that my child would experience life without disease or disability. Of course, some of this will always be outside of our control, but I wanted to figure out exactly what I could do to reduce the risk that my child would be born with a genetic disease.

 Genetic diseases are caused by mutations in one or more genes in a person’s DNA. Genetic diseases are inherited from one or both biological parents and are present at birth. There are two types of inherited genetic diseases: dominant and recessive. In a dominant genetic disease, the child only needs to inherit one copy of the mutated gene from one parent in order to have the disease. This mutated gene “dominates” the other unaffected gene, essentially overriding it and causing illness. An example of a dominant genetic disease is Marfan syndrome. If I had Marfan syndrome and my husband did not, my child would have a 50 percent chance of inheriting my dominant defective gene and having the disease itself. There are no carriers of dominant genetic diseases; you either have the mutated gene that causes disease or you do not.

 In a recessive genetic disease, the child must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent, in order to have the disease. If the child only inherits one copy of the mutated gene, then the child is a carrier of gene but does not actually have the disease. An example of a recessive genetic disease is cystic fibrosis. If my husband and I are both carriers of cystic fibrosis, meaning we each only have one copy of the recessive gene but do not have the actual disease, then our child has a 50 percent chance of being a carrier. If we are both carriers, our child has a 25 percent chance of inheriting two copies of the mutated gene (one from each of us) and actually having the disease. Our child also has a 25 percent chance of inheriting no copies of the mutated gene and is unaffected.

Prior to genetic testing, my husband and I had no idea whether we were carriers for any mutated genes that cause these illnesses. As carriers, we would not have symptoms of the disease; we would simply carry the gene in our DNA. I have worked with many families with healthy parents who were surprised to discover after birth that their child had been born with a recessive genetic disease, such as sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis. These parents had no idea that they were carriers for the disease, and sometimes even had multiple other healthy children prior to this child. Their other children would have a 50 percent chance of being carriers (inheriting one mutated gene from one parent) and a 25 percent chance of being neither carriers nor ill (inheriting no mutated genes from either parent). So, it is not only possible but also probable that parents who are both carriers of disease could have healthy children naturally.

There is no right or wrong answer on whether or not to undergo genetic testing; many couples choose not to have testing done because they know it will not change their decisions related to conception and pregnancy. Many patients have told me that they want their child’s creation to be in God’s hands, or that they wouldn’t alter the course of pregnancy because of a positive genetic diagnosis. I completely respect and empathize with that, and I truly believe that there is no right way to go about creating a family. If you are interested in prenatal genetic testing, ask your OB-GYN or Nurse Midwife for more information on where and how to complete the tests.

My husband and I felt that it was important to undergo genetic testing before we started trying to conceive, rather than wait until after we were already pregnant. If we were both carriers for the same disease, we wanted to be able to talk about our options for conception before we had a fetus that may have been affected. We wanted to prevent disease, rather than be in a position where we had to react to the diagnosis of a potentially debilitating or fatal disease.

What would we have done if we found out that one of us was a carrier for a recessive disease but the other was not a carrier for that disease? Nothing. Our child would be at risk of inheriting one mutated gene, but would not be at risk of having the disease. Both parents must pass on one copy of the mutated gene in order for the recessive disease to be present. As it turns out, I was a carrier for a rare recessive genetic disease, but my husband was not a carrier for that disease.

What would we have done if we found out that both of us were carriers for the same recessive genetic disease? This answer is a little more complicated. According to our genetic counselor, these would have been our options:

1. Conceive naturally, knowing that there is a 25 percent risk for the baby inheriting the disease. We could test the fetus and make a decision on whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy based on the prenatal diagnosis.

2. Create embryos with my egg and my husband’s sperm and test the embryos. Implant healthy embryos (those that do not have two copies of the mutated gene) through IVF. Our providers would need to know which disease(s) we were both carriers for in order to test the embryos for those specific diseases.

3. Use a donor egg or sperm from a donor who is not a carrier for the particular disease.

4. Conceive naturally and do not test the fetus for disease. Test the baby after the baby is born and if the disease is present, provide available care to the baby to help manage the disease.

 Fortunately, we discovered that we were not carriers for any of the same diseases. If we had been, though, prenatal testing would have given us the opportunity to have these difficult discussions and understand how we each felt about our potential options. With these reassuring genetic testing results, we were ready to start our new family. After five months we were pregnant, and today we are the proud parents of a happy and healthy 4-month-old son.

To learn more about our Genetic Services and our genetics team check out our genetics resource page here.

Use these resources to help you on your journey with Infertility

Living with Infertility can be daunting and overwhelming. Especially when your hopes of growing your family seem unimaginable. Fairfax Cryobank has put together a list of 6 resources that could help you on your journey to creating a family while living with infertility.

1. RESOLVE – The National Infertility Association Resolve is a great place to start when first starting your journey with infertility. The National Infertility Association is an amazing organization and resource that provides free support groups in more than 200 communities and is the leading patient advocacy voice. While also serving as the go-to organization for anyone challenged in their family building.

2. Dreaming of Diapers – A Tell All Infertility Blog & IVF Blog Named as one of the “Best Blogs 2020 for Infertility” by healthline.com, the author of Dreaming of Diapers takes her readers on her very personal journey of infertility and trying to conceive. This southern girl living on the West Coast shares it all from IVF to her experience with friends getting pregnant before she does.

3.Your Future Family: The Essential Guide to Assisted Reproduction (What You Need to Know About Surrogacy, Egg Donation, and Sperm Donation) Your Infertility journey might take you down the road of assisted reproduction. This could include egg donation, sperm donation, or surrogacy. Your Future Family by Kim Bergman Ph.D. gives you a roadmap for navigating the journey to building a family through third-party reproduction. Fun Fact: Host, and Executive Producer, Andy Cohen used this book during the process of having his own baby boy!

4. The Stork and I Meet Mel, UK’s first and only Social Infertility Coach! Mel is a single mother by choice who shares her story of infertility and pregnancy. While also sharing her own stories, she provides personalized coaching sessions to empower single women around the world and support them on their path to motherhood.

5. We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True Actor Gabrielle Union shares her memoir, which covers her battle with recurring pregnancy loss while also spotlighting the experiences of black women with infertility. This honest and humorous book is a lighter read, but still powerful in its words and stories.

6. Fairfax Cryobank – Couples Facing Infertility Male Infertility accounts for upwards of 1/3 of all infertility. Our team understands that the stress of infertility can be difficult. We are particularly sensitive to all the aspects facing couples dealing with infertility because we are part of a larger infertility institute (Genetics & IVF Institute) that has been providing comprehensive infertility services since 1983. We are well equipped to help as you navigate the donor sperm selection and ordering process. Please visit our resource page and learn more from our family testimonials.

New Mom, Christina Barnes, RN, shares how long it should take to get pregnant

Many couples are surprised to discover that getting pregnant is not always a quick and easy process. We’ve all heard stories of accidental pregnancies while on birth control and the couple who gets pregnant three weeks after stopping the pill. As a healthy woman in my early 30s, I assumed that as soon as my husband and I stopped using birth control I would become pregnant. From an early age, I thought that if I had unprotected sex I would immediately become pregnant, so for most of my adult life, I actively tried to prevent pregnancy. Once we decided to stop birth control I was frustrated and extremely disappointed when, for the next 5 months, I continued to have one negative pregnancy test after another. I felt like everyone around me was pregnant and having babies; I wondered why it wasn’t as easy for us to conceive as it seemed to be for everyone else. We finally conceived at month 6, and while this felt like a painfully long process, this timeline is actually completely normal.

What is Normal Fertility?

In the first 6 months of attempting pregnancy, approximately 80 percent of couples will conceive. During those first 6 months, a healthy fertile couple has about a 15 to 20 percent chance of conception each month. With a 20 percent chance of conception each month of trying, it statistically makes sense that it would take longer than one or two months for most couples to conceive. After these first 6 months, the probability of becoming pregnant in a single cycle decreases as the length of time without conception increases.

In the first 12 months of trying to get pregnant, approximately 85 percent of couples will conceive. Of the remaining couples who have not conceived, about half of those will spontaneously conceive within 36 months. I wish I had known this while I was trying to get pregnant; these numbers put the entire timeline into perspective. The majority of couples will conceive within a year, and those that do not may take up to 36 months. So while it may seem like everyone you follow on social media effortlessly becomes pregnant, the majority of people need more than a few months to conceive.

What is Infertility?

You’ve been trying to conceive for what feels like forever and you still aren’t pregnant. At what point should you speak to your OB-GYN or primary care doctor about infertility treatment? A couple should be evaluated for infertility if they do not conceive after 1 year of regular unprotected sex in women under age 35, and after 6 months of regular unprotected sex in women age 35 years and older. Women with known risk factors for infertility, such as a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis, may start infertility evaluation sooner than 6 months or 1 year.

In 10 percent of cases of infertility, the male is the only known cause for the couple’s infertility. The most common cause for male infertility, about 65 to 80 percent of cases, is a testicular defect that affects the creation of sperm. Other causes for male infertility include endocrine disorders (such as hypogonadism) and abnormal sperm mobility. About 10 to 20 percent of infertile males will have a normal semen analysis and no identifiable cause of infertility.

Optimizing Fertility

The period during a woman’s cycle where there is a chance of conception, also known as the fertile period, is only about 6 days long. This fertile period is approximately 5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation. The highest chance of conception occurs when a couple has sex 1 to 2 days before ovulation and on the day of ovulation. Women can predict when they will ovulate by tracking changes in their cervical mucus, measuring luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine, tracking body temperature, or using a variety of cycle-tracking phone apps and devices. I personally used a simple phone app to track my cycle and temperature for the first 5 months, and then on month 6, I added LH urine tests. I really liked the LH urine tests because they were simple to use and told me when my LH was peaking, indicating my most fertile time. I peed on a stick every day for about a week that looked exactly like a pregnancy test. When my LH was highest, meaning I was in my fertile days, the test showed a smiley face. With the positive LH test, I knew that I was in my fertile window, and my husband and I could try on that day and for a few days afterward.

 Medical studies show that couples with the highest rates of pregnancy have sex every one to two days throughout the month. While this is ideal for conception, many couples may find this schedule challenging with the demands of a busy life and family. Fortunately, having sex regularly 2 to 3 times per week should ensure that sex falls during the fertile period. When I saw my OB-GYN discuss stopping birth control, she recommended that I start by following this 2 to 3 times per week schedule. She told me that I could track my ovulation if I wanted, but if my husband and I just had regular sex that eventually it would happen. I unfortunately am not the type of person who can just sit back and see what happens, so I tried to follow this schedule while tracking my ovulation at the same time. The process of trying to conceive was, at times, exhausting and emotionally draining, but knowing that the majority of couples actually take more than a few months to conceive helped to alleviate some stress. The pressure to become pregnant can feel heavy and lonely at times, but don’t forget to enjoy the time with your partner and take care of yourself.

Fairfax Cryobank’s passion and purpose are to help you grow your family with donor sperm. Learn more about Fairfax’s resources for prospective parents.

Fall in love with these fall-themed pregnancy announcement ideas

The leaves are changing and so is your family. It’s time to share the good news of your pregnancy with all your family and friends! We have put together a list of some fun fall-themed pregnancy announcements ideas to welcome your new bundle of joy!

Pumpkin Pregnancy Announcement Gift Box

Nothing is cuter than a little pumpkin. Gift these to your closest friends and family and they’ll be so excited to welcome your new little pumpkin to your family patch! Click here to order your little pumpkin

A Wicked Cute Sign

Halloween doesn’t have to always be scary! Get inspiration from this wicked cute Halloween themed pregnancy announcement.

Fall Festival Instagram

Add some of your favorite fall items to make the best Instagrammable moment. From little pumpkins to fall colors, it’s an easy and cheaper way to announce your good news.

Fall Themed Onesie

Get more than one use out of this fall-themed onesie! Your social media followers will love the creativity of this announcement onesie and once your new baby arrives you’ll fall in love with how cute they look in it! Find this fall onesie here.

Family Fall Shoot

Get the whole family involved with your pregnancy announcement, like with these fun pumpkin shirts! Find some more fall family shirt ideas here.

We hope some of these ideas will fulfill your perfect fall pregnancy announcement dreams! For more ideas like this subscribe to our blog and newsletter so you don’t miss a post.

Learn more about twin pregnancy basics, from our guest blogger, Christina Barnes, RN

If you’ve ever hoped to become pregnant with twins after struggles with infertility, you’re not alone. “One of the most common things I hear from women going through IVF is how great it would be to have twins,” says Suzanne Seitz, Genetic Counselor at Fairfax Cryobank. “They are putting so much effort into creating a pregnancy and are maybe getting to the end of their reproductive window. They see this as a matter of efficiency. How great would it be if they could just have two babies at once? Then their family would be complete.” It’s no secret that IVF and other fertility treatments are expensive, time consuming, and stressful. It seems to make sense that reducing the number of fertility treatments and consolidating two babies (or more) into one pregnancy would improve a family’s financial situation and quality of life. There is no guarantee that a woman will be able to conceive in the future after a successful IVF pregnancy, so why not aim for a twin pregnancy right now? Can the benefits of an intentional twin pregnancy outweigh the risks? According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the answer is no: the benefits of a twin pregnancy do not outweigh the risks. 

Twin Pregnancy Basics

There are two different types of twins: dizygotic or “fraternal” twins, and monozygotic or “identical” twins. (Another way to remember the difference – “di” means two and “mono” means one.) Dizygotic twins occur when two separate eggs are fertilized and implant into the uterus, each with their own placenta. Monozygotic twins occur when one egg is fertilized and then divides into two embryos, and they may develop two separate placentas or share the same single placenta.

Twin births make up approximately 3 percent of all live births in the United States. Fraternal twins are more common than identical twins; fraternal twins account for about 70 percent of twin pregnancies.

What Increases Your Chances For a Twin Pregnancy?

• Use of Fertility Treatments: Undergoing fertility treatments significantly increases your chances of a twin pregnancy when compared to natural conception. Over 50 percent of women undergo double embryo transfer as part of IVF, with successful implantation of both embryos resulting in twins. Ovulation inducing drugs like Clomid will increase the likelihood that a woman will release more than one egg at a time, which can lead to fertilization of multiple eggs and a twin pregnancy. Over the last 40 years in the United States, the number of twin births has increased from 1 in every 53 infants to 1 in every 29 infants. This increase is due to the development and prevalence of fertility treatments; today, over one-third of all twin infants born in the United States are the result of fertility treatments.
• Maternal Age: As women age, the concentration of their follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increases. A 35-year-old woman is two to three times more likely to naturally conceive fraternal twins than a 15-year-old woman. Aside from changes in FSH, older women are also more likely to use fertility treatments.
• Parity: Increased parity (the number of previous pregnancies carried to a viable gestational age) can lead to an increased likelihood of fraternal twins.
• Family History: In some cases, there is a genetic component to a woman’s chances of fraternal twin pregnancy. A woman with a family history of twin births has an increased risk of having twins.
• Maternal Weight and Height: Obese and tall women are more likely to have a fraternal twin pregnancy than underweight and short women.

Risks of a Twin Pregnancy:

Twin pregnancies have a higher risk of almost every potential complication of pregnancy. In order to monitor both the mother and the fetuses for these risks, women who are pregnant with twins will have more frequent prenatal appointments as compared to women pregnant with single babies.

• Preterm Birth: Twin pregnancies are at a significantly higher risk of preterm labor and delivery as compared to single fetus pregnancies. Preterm birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy have been completed. In the United States, 59 percent of twins are born before 37 weeks gestation. Complications of preterm birth in the infant include:
  • Hypothermia (low body temperature)
  • Breathing abnormalities, respiratory diseases, and bleeding in the lungs
  •  Cardiovascular abnormalities
  • Brain bleeds
  • Glucose levels that are too low or too high
  • Necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening infection of the intestine
  • Blindness
• Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia: Women who are pregnant with twins are twice as likely to develop hypertension (high blood pressure) and preeclampsia as compared to women pregnant with single babies.
• Growth Restriction: Growth restriction is when a fetus does not grow to a normal weight while in the mother’s womb. These infants are born smaller than other babies of the same gestational age, which can put them at a higher risk for illness.
• Congenital Anomalies: Infants in twin pregnancies are at a significantly higher risk of birth defects, also known as congenital anomalies, as compared to women pregnant with single babies. Examples of congenital anomalies include heart defects, cleft lip and palate, defects of the intestine, and cystic kidney.
• Gestational Diabetes: Women pregnant with twins are 1.5 times as likely to get gestational diabetes as compared to women pregnant with single babies.

One Healthy Baby at a Time

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) states that the goal of infertility treatment is one healthy baby at a time. The best way to decrease the chance of having a twin pregnancy through IVF is to transfer one embryo at a time. “Having a twin pregnancy results in complications not only for the mother but also for the babies if they’re born early or have birth defects. This is one reason IVF clinics are moving towards limiting the number of embryos transferred,” says Suzanne Seitz. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also encourages couples undergoing fertility treatments to aim for singleton pregnancies in order to reduce the risk for maternal and infant diseases. If you have questions or want more information on twin pregnancies and fertility treatments, speak with your doctor. You can also check out the following resources with data from the CDC and ASRM:

CDC Having Healthy Babies One at a Time

ASRM Multiple Pregnancy – Patient Education Video

Looking for more posts like this? Don’t miss an update or blog, subscribe to our blog and monthly newsletter today.

Congratulations you’ve chosen the perfect sperm donor! The next step is to pick what vial type is best for you by what procedure you will be using. Whether you’re participating in at-home insemination, in-office insemination, or using an assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure, Fairfax Cryobank has but together straightforward infographic to help you choose what vial type is best for you!