Fairfax Cryobank

To start off this review, I wanted to let you all know that my husband is a disabled combat veteran and we have chosen to go through a Cryobank. I came across Fairfax and my husband and I decided on the perfect donor for our family. Luckily we live in a state where we can do home insemination and that's what we are in the process of doing. I have read some reviews where people say their Dr. won't sign the form because of the way it is worded and I'm so sorry that has happened.

My Dr. had no issues signing and our office staff is so amazing that they even called the Cryobank to verify they were sending the form over. Once the form was signed and sent back, I called and the lady that answered was so sweet and verified it had indeed been received. I can't thank all of the staff enough at Fairfax for making this process so easy because the last thing anyone needs in a time of trying to conceive is stress.

I didn't get one rude person when calling and I called a bunch to check on things and everyone there was great. This process was so easy and they are very detailed when explaining things. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone that's wanting to go through a Cryobank and actually have recommended them to a friend. The only downside was that they go through FedEx and that was a very stressful time because they had lost our vials and then found them and it was a cluster but I've already been in contact with FedEx about that issue.

Another thing is that they offer Military discounts. My husband and I ordered 3 vials and it was over $3,000 but with the discount (which I think is 10%) and it knocked off a few hundred dollars which most definitely helps. If we decide to use a Cryobank again, no doubt we will use Fairfax! Thanks again for everyone being so kind and helpful during a time when it is definitely needed!

They have a great selection of donors but I found it quite hard to get the information I needed out of them via email and phone and I found the communication quite cold.

Similarly to what others have related, my doctor wouldn't sign the form for home insemination because of the wording. And, like other reviewers, I felt disappointed that I invested substantial time and energy looking through profiles and picking a donor from this site, not to mention paying for a 3-month subscription for full access to the profiles.

I picked Fairfax over other cryobanks because I thought they provided the best selection and gave the most comprehensive information about those donors. But at this point it seems to have been a dead end. I agree with the others who said be sure you have a doctor on board before going down this road.

My wife and I selected Fairfax as our Cryobank and found the perfect donor! The customer service was great and the process seemed easy but when it came to the option of inseminating at home, Fairfax missed the mark. We had to get signed approval from our physician to have the specimen sent to our home which our doctor was ready an willing to do, however, Fairfax's document for releasing products to a customers home lists that the procedure will take place under the supervision and care our doctor (which would not be the case).

For liability purposes, our physician couldn't sign that form and Fairfax doesn't posses and will not correct their form to reflect the correct terminology so that we can get the approval we need. Onlookers beware! Be sure that you connect with your physician beforehand because there's a good chance you will fall in love with the site and it's donors only to have to change your plans last second.

For potential sperm donors- this place will reject you for anything. Gave two samples and everything was good, but got rejected and wasn't given a clear cut reason why. Just got a generic email basically saying it was due to "many reasons". Also, was told I should see a psychologist based on some answers I gave to a 300 question, random-ass "personality test" (why they even give one is beyond me). I reached back out and asked them to be more specific, but they never replied. waste of time if you ask me.

Selection was fine and I was eventually successful, but the experience with working with Fairfax Cryobank has been terrible. Their customer service is horrible and their pricing for long term storage is outrages given their very minimal management and fixed costs. Good luck building families to everyone out there! I wish this industry was regulated and companies, like Fairfax Cryobank, didn't take advantage of clients financially during one of the most vulnerable events of their lives.

This place is really unethical. They advertise on the website and in their brochures/materials that they allow you to do at-home insemination. However, after I paid them thousands of dollars for storage, they informed me that we needed a doctor's note where the doctor affirms that the insemination "will be performed under my direction and supervision." I asked them to clarify and they said "oh, we just mean that your doctor answered any questions you might have." I asked them to give me a form that stated that and they "we can't, it's just a formality." I spoke to several doctors who said they could not sign it, as they are not in my home directly supervising me.

I just read another review from a few years ago raising this issue, and they responded that this is in response to state law. This is a lie. I offered to pick it up, and I specifically asked if there is anywhere I could have them ship it when they don't have that note. They are engaging in false advertise to the extent that I would call it downright fraud. Edited to add: The owner response says "Our donor sperm vials can be used for home insemination after a licensed medical provider signs a consent form that acknowledges that in-home insemination is a suitable option for the recipient. " This is not at all what the form says.

It says that the insemination will occur under the doctor's direct supervision. This is exactly the kind of dishonesty that is ubiquitous with this place, where their website and representatives say one thing and the form they require says another and they refuse to reconcile the two. The response also claims "Due to varying parentage laws that differ state to state, proper documentation is required to meet state regulations, therefore we recommend that our recipients check with our client services representatives to verify that we are able to ship to your home state for home insemination." I did check with them before the sperm was frozen and they said yes, no problem.

Then when it came time to ship and they gave me the supervision form, I explicitly asked if I could get it shipped to another state and have a different form instead. They would not even engage with the question and clearly do not have different practices for different states.

I've never had a problem with this bank. I've used it numerous times. They even have a thing where if you buy four get one free. But it has to be four different times. I love how convenient they are.

I have attended their online information sessions and found them to be extremely informative and well organized. They have a very good website with adequate information about donors, which is very helpful when contemplating a sperm donor. Unfortunately, the wait time to speak to a real-love person is terribly long, you are on hold for extensive amounts of time.

When you call, there isn't even an option to select and speak with someone if you have questions. The only phone options for selection are to discuss billing, purchase sperm and be connected to a person whose extension you know. This gives the impression that you should not waste their time calling, unless you intend to do business with them and are ready to pay.

Those who answer the phones are informed about services offered, but are unkind and are extremely impatient. I have called many times to ask questions as I consider their services and time after time the attitude of the person on the phone is terrible. I have called and spoken with several other well known sperm banks to inquire about their products and services and their customer service attitude is top notch; friendly, courteous and helpful.

I recommend providing training to their customer service on how to handle potential clients. Working with cryobank is a happy and sometimes difficult decision, therefore those providing this service need to be empathetic and friendly.

More than 30% of the donors who are advertised and searchable on this website as "available" in this search engine when you pay for full access are retired from the program with full wait lists and no possibility of being your donor. Don't waste your money, time, energy, heart, or aspirations on this place. The supervising client services managers don't provide customer care, rather they are nasty, callous, and confrontational and do not put their clients first.

Find a place that keeps their website in line with the true status of donors and with supervising customer "care" representatives who actually care. Truly one of the most horrific experiences and conversations with a customer representative of any company in my life, not to mention the fact that this is one if the hardest, most personal decisions anyone goes through. I feel not only bamboozled but totally denigrated by these nasty people in the process.

I called here many times, left messages, was transferred/hung up on, was told I would get a call back - nothing. Oftentimes, people contact these cryobanks out of necessity and strict time deadlines.not being able to receive so much as a courtesy return call speaks volumes as to what this practice is like.

I remember coming here when I needed cash for college. I remember being greeted, but not very warmly. I remember filling out many forms and being asked what my GPA was. At the time I was there, my GPA wasn't high. Through process of elimination, I was not worthy of making it to the next level. I never made it to the next level, but I always wondered what came next.

I have to say they were very thorough background check and I appreciate that. Still when you get right down to it, what will the choices be? Books, magazines, videos or electro milking like in the movie Road Trip.

Misleading. We contacted this sperm bank because we were told by Pacific Reproductive Services which is an affiliate with Fairfax Cryobank that we could do a home insemination. All we had to do was sign the terms of use form and submit the form through FairFax Cryobank. However what we were not told was we have to get a physician's consent to be able to have the donar sperm mailed to our home.

The physician consent form indicates that the procedure will be performed "under the direction and supervision of the licensed medical professional". This is the part that baffles me.because how can a home insemination be performed if it has to be under the "direction AND supervision" of the medical professional. We wanted to make this very difficult situation as intimate for us a possible but now we can't because no Medical professional will sign this form with those conditions since they cannot be present in our home but would have to have it in the office of a fertility clinic. Defeats the ENTIRE point of advertising that you allow "in home insemination" as an option for couples or single women.

I was very upset and disturbed about this. Why does a woman Need a Medical license permission to get pregnant? This is another act of discrimination against women's reproductive rights. We do not have the power over our own bodies even when we are CREATING a LIFE! So disappointed with both Fairfax Cryobank and Pacific Reproductive Services.

I agree with Edie, there are a lot of stupid reviews listed for Fairfax. I just recently went in to freeze my sperm for later use and had a great experience. Everyone seemed knowledgeable and professional. The prices are fair and they offer discounts on prepaid long term storage. Overall would recommend using their services for banking sperm.

Angry that they did not let me know that I could store it there and return it for 1/2 price if I didn't use all of it. I bought 6 vials, all that my donor supposedly had left, because they scare you into thinking the donor will sell out and his profile remained on the site with available units.

After reading the idiotic reviews posted, I felt compelled to write a review that spoke to the reality of Fairfax Cryobank. This place is very clinical, as you would want a company who was handling embryos or genetic material donation. Nothing is left to chance. Everything is formal and professional. We used IVF over 2 years ago and chose Fairfax as the place to house our remaining embryos.

They were recommended by our IVF clinic as being skilled and responsible in cases of longer term storage. For example, the place must store them at the appropriate temperature, without mix-up, without damage, etc. They have been very good at communicating with us regarding our agreed length of storage, legal responsibilities as "parents" of embryos, costs associated with that storage, and the processes for delivery of the remaining embryos when we proceed with the next transfer.

If you are going here to deliver a "sample", those paying for and relying on your sperm donation will be thankful for the sterile, serious nature of the process and for the sterile nature of the facility--much like when you go for surgery, you want the best surgeon, not necessarily the nicest one. As costly as IVF and infertility treatments are, success is the most important factor. I'm glad that we used them for our storage needs.