Are Physician Referrals Required for Insemination?
Answered by Liz Coolidge, coordinator of the LGBT Family and Parenting Services at Fenway Community Health in Boston. Jan. 4, 2002
Sperm banks and physician referrals
Q: Dear Liz,
I've been looking at sperm donor websites and some require a physician's referral. Is this required only for doctor-assisted insemination? Is it possible to just order from some banks without a doctor's referral?
Thank you,
Karen
A: Dear Karen,
To my knowledge, all sperm banks require a physician's order to release sperm to women. This is because once a man donates to a sperm bank, his semen is treated as a medical substance. A doctor's order is required to release medical substances to patients. Even if you want to inseminate yourself at home, you will need a physician or other medical provider working with a physician to authorize the sperm bank to release the sperm to you. The bank can then ship it to your home if you choose. The banks also want to know that you have a medical provider in case you have a problem. This requirement is in place for your safety.
In our Alternative Insemination Program at Fenway Community Health, we provide this kind of authorization for women who want to inseminate themselves at home. While we require at least one visit to Boston, we have worked with many women who live outside of Massachusetts.
Good luck to you!
Sincerely,
Liz Coolidge
Coolidge is coordinator of the LGBT Family and Parenting Services at Fenway Community Health in Boston.
Jan. 4, 2002