Donor sperm can be used for IUI, IVF, and home insemination. It is most commonly used by single women and lesbian couples; however, heterosexual couples may choose to use donor sperm if recommended by their doctor.

There are several types of donor sperm available, including IUI, ICI (intracervical insemination), ART (artificial reproductive technology), and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). The type of donor sperm available varies among cryobanks; however, all can be used for IVF. A key difference between IUI and ICI specimens is that ICI sperm cannot be placed into the uterus as it needs to be “washed” or filtered to remove non-motile sperm, round cells, and other materials that may reduce fertilization.