Fairfax Family Forums

For Immediate Release

August 23, 2010

An Online Community for Those Using Donor Sperm

Donor insemination began almost 40 years ago, yet most donor offspring and clients who used donor sperm rely on a patchwork of organizations outside the realm of the sperm banks to find one another and share common experiences.

Now, Fairfax Cryobank is one of the few sperm banks offering clients a chance to connect, to discuss issues of importance to them and, ultimately, to find other like minded clients who used the same donor. The new Fairfax Family Forums allows women and couples who used donor insemination (DI) and adults conceived by DI to connect with one another, and share photos, stories and experiences. With a registered pregnancy, one can join a donor specific forum and connect with others who used the same donor. When using online organizations outside the sperm bank, clients must trust that those they are connecting with are who they say they are and that donor and offspring information is accurate. They also pay a fee. "As the sperm bank with access to our own client and donor records, we are able to verify information, be selective in those we grant access to in the private donor forums and also make sure donor personal and medical information is correct while protecting anonymity of all parties involved at no cost to our clients," says Dr. Michelle Ottey, director of operations for Fairfax Cryobank.

Benefits of Fairfax Family Forums include: helping new families navigate telling their children about donor conception by listening and talking with others who have been there; fostering an environment of openness; providing an accepting environment for DI conceived individuals, and addressing the unique needs of single women, infertile and single sex couples through shared experiences.

“Fairfax Cryobank is excited to offer this service for our clients. We recognize the importance of open communication, sharing of health and medical information, and the positive relationships that can develop from these connections. It is for those reasons that we created the Fairfax Family Forums. The best place to share and gather information is at the source,” says Dr. Ottey.

Based in Fairfax, VA, Fairfax Cryobank is one of the world's largest and most experienced sperm banks, offering exceptional donor sperm, sperm storage and embryo storage services. Fairfax Cryobank meets the highest standards of screening and testing and is fully compliant with all FDA regulations.

All press inquiries should be directed to:

Trina Leonard
Leonard Communications

301-530-6700

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