Frozen Sperm
How long does it really last?
Indefinitely
No confirmed expiration date
Sperm frozen at -196°C in liquid nitrogen can remain viable indefinitely. Successful pregnancies have been recorded from sperm stored for over 28 years.
Zero
Quality loss from storage time
A study of 119,558 samples over 15 years found storage duration had no significant effect on motility, fertilization rates, or live birth rates.
FDA Quarantine Requirement
Donor sperm must be quarantined for at least 6 months and the donor retested for infectious diseases before the sample can be released for use. This applies to all anonymous donations in the United States.
Source: FDA regulations, ASRM guidelines
7–14 Days
Shipping window in dry shippers
Frozen sperm is routinely shipped nationally and internationally in dry shippers — portable liquid nitrogen tanks that maintain -150°C to -196°C without power for 7–14 days. Major carriers like FedEx and UPS handle these shipments daily. Most sperm banks offer direct-to-clinic or direct-to-home delivery. International transport may require customs paperwork and import permits depending on the destination country.
Frozen Eggs
Vitrification changed everything
95%+
Survival rate after thaw (under 36)
Eggs frozen from women under 36 using vitrification (flash-freezing) have a survival rate exceeding 95%. Quality at time of freezing is what matters most.
1 in 4
Eggs become a healthy embryo
For women under 35, roughly 1 in 4 frozen eggs becomes a genetically healthy embryo, with a fertilization rate around 77%.
<80%
Survival rate over 40
Egg survival rates drop below 80% for women over 40 at time of freezing, with very few eggs yielding chromosomally normal embryos.
No longer experimental
As of 2021, ASRM declared oocyte cryopreservation a standard of care for fertility preservation — no longer an experimental procedure.
Source: ASRM Practice Committee, 2021
Frozen Embryos
The longest shelf life in fertility
31 Years
Longest successful freeze
A healthy baby was born from an embryo frozen in 1994 and transferred in 2025 — 31 years in storage.
95-99%
Blastocyst thaw survival
With modern vitrification, 95-99% of day-5 blastocysts survive thawing. Storage duration does not significantly impact viability.
Frozen = Fresh (or better)
Pregnancy rates from frozen embryo transfers are now equal to or better than fresh transfers for most patients. Many clinics now prefer freeze-all protocols.
Source: SART national data
IVF Success Rates by Age
Live birth rate per embryo transfer (SART data)
69%
Under 35
58%
35–37
43%
38–40
24%
41–42
7%
Over 42
With PGT-tested embryos: Live birth rates improve to 70–80% per transfer regardless of maternal age at embryo creation. Freezing 15–20 eggs before age 35 gives roughly an 80% cumulative live birth rate.
Source: SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) national data
Sperm Donor Facts
What the screening process really looks like
1–5%
Acceptance rate
Only 1–5% of sperm donor applicants pass all screening rounds at major sperm banks. The process includes physical exams, genetic testing, psychological evaluations, and semen analysis.
18–39
Required age range
Most sperm banks require donors to be 18–39 years old. ASRM recommends donors ideally be under 40 to minimize risks associated with advancing paternal age.
Mandatory FDA Screening
Every donor is tested for HIV-1 & HIV-2, Hepatitis B & C, syphilis, HTLV-1 & 2, and CMV within 7 days of each donation. Expanded carrier screening covers 100+ genetic conditions.
Birth limits
ASRM recommends no more than 25 live births per donor per 800,000 population to prevent half-siblings from unknowingly meeting. The FDA does not set a legal cap.
Source: ASRM gamete donation guidance, 2024
Egg Donor Facts
Requirements, limits, and compensation
21–34
ASRM recommended age
Donors under 21 require additional psychological evaluation. For donors over 34, cytogenetic risks must be disclosed to intended parents.
6 Max
Lifetime retrieval cycles
ASRM recommends limiting a single egg donor to no more than 6 retrieval cycles in their lifetime to protect donor health.
$8K–$30K+
Compensation per cycle
ASRM considers $5,000–$10,000 an ethical range. Market rates at private agencies commonly reach $8,000–$30,000+ depending on donor profile and location.
Source: ASRM Ethics Committee, 2021
Surrogacy Facts
Types, success rates, and costs
Gestational Surrogacy
The surrogate has no genetic connection to the child. She carries an embryo created from the intended parents' or donor eggs/sperm. Accounts for 80–90% of all surrogacy in the U.S.
$100K–$220K+
All-in cost (U.S.)
Traditional Surrogacy
The surrogate uses her own eggs and is the genetic mother. Far less common due to greater legal and emotional complexity.
$40K–$90K
All-in cost (U.S.)
Success Rates
45–55%
Per transfer
70–80%
With PGT embryos
70–80%
Within 3 transfers
Source: Industry data, Illume Fertility cost breakdowns
Fertility Decline by Age
What the science says for women and men
Female Fertility
Egg Reserve Over Time
Women are born with all the eggs they'll ever have. By age 30, only about 12% of peak egg reserve remains. By 40, only ~3% remains.
The Decline Timeline
Fertility begins declining gradually after 32, accelerates noticeably at 37, and drops steeply after 40.
Chromosomally Normal Eggs by Age
76%
25–30
52%
35–37
40-50%
38–40
<30%
Over 40
Male Fertility
Testosterone Decline
Testosterone declines approximately 1–2% per year starting around age 30. Free testosterone drops ~1.3% per year between ages 40–70.
Sperm Quality
Sperm count declines up to 2.6% per year after age 40. Motility worsens by 3–37%. Morphology can decline ~0.9% per year.
Peak & Decline
Male fertility peaks at approximately ages 30–35. Decline accelerates from 35 and more steeply from 40. Fathers over 40 have increased risk of certain genetic conditions in offspring, including autism spectrum disorder and achondroplasia.
Source: ASRM committee opinion on advancing paternal age; meta-analysis of 90 studies (93,839 men)
Fertility Preservation
When to freeze and why
Optimal Age to Freeze Eggs
ASRM reports the highest live birth rates from eggs retrieved at ages 25–30. Clinical consensus puts the practical ideal window at 30–34.
52%
Live birth rate (frozen <35)
19%
Live birth rate (frozen 40+)
How Many Eggs to Bank
Banking 15–20 mature eggs before age 38 gives a cumulative live birth rate exceeding 70% when those eggs are used.
Why people freeze: Cancer treatment (chemo/radiation), endometriosis, career planning, not having found the right partner, or financial readiness.
Source: ASRM 2026 updated guidance; single-centre cohort of 731 women
Co-Parenting & Single Parents by Choice
A rapidly growing movement
23M+
Children in single-parent homes (U.S.)
Over 23 million children in the U.S. live in single-parent families — approximately 34–35% of all children.
1.5M
Single mothers by choice (U.S.)
Approximately 1.5 million women in the U.S. are raising children alone by deliberate choice — the fastest-growing segment of single mothers.
+109%
Donor insemination growth
Single people using donor insemination increased 109% between 2011–2021. Women using IVF with donor sperm increased 178% in the same period.
34%
Joint custody rate
Joint custody was used in only 13% of families before 1985. By the early 2010s, it rose to 34% — reflecting the growth of intentional co-parenting arrangements.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Research, Single Mothers by Choice
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Join 46,000+ members worldwide who are building families on their own terms. Create your free profile today.
Join Heirbloom FreeMedical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Statistics are sourced from ASRM, SART, FDA, and peer-reviewed research as cited. Individual outcomes vary significantly. Always consult a qualified fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist for advice specific to your situation.