From Sign‑up to First Donation: A Sperm Donor’s Step‑by‑Step Journey on Y factor

Choosing to become a known sperm donor is a generous decision that helps someone fulfil their dream of parenthood. Unlike the clinical, anonymous process of a sperm bank, being a known donor allows you to see the direct impact of your donation and create a connection with the family and child if you wish to. You aren't just a number in a database; you are the person who makes a family’s dream possible. By choosing transparency, you provide future children with the invaluable gift of knowing their genetic heritage and give parents the peace of mind that comes from a real human connection.

This guide walks you through the donor journey step by step, ensuring you have total control over your boundaries and your contribution.

Step 1: Reflect on your "Why" and your boundaries

Donating sperm is a generous act, but it carries long-term weight. Take the time to reflect on what you actually want from this experience. Are you looking for a "donation-only" relationship where you stay in the background, or do you see yourself having an "uncle" role or even co-parenting? Think about your capacity from the start: how many times do you foresee yourself donating, and how many families are you comfortable helping?

Establishing these boundaries now prevents you from being swept up in someone else’s expectations later. Consider having a conversation with your loved ones and family members to understand how donating would impact your existing relationships. Before you create a Y factor account, you need to have clarity on the following preferences, which are mandatory on every profile:

• Donation method:

  How would you like to provide the donation? On Y factor you can select home insemination, clinic insemination, and intercourse. All carry different legal and medical implications. Make sure you understand the consequences of which donation method you choose. You can always select more than one donation method on your profile.

• Post-donation relationship:

  You decide between donation only (no contact after), online relationship (updates and phone calls once in a while), uncle figure (active presence in the child’s life), or co-parenting (shared custody and parenting responsibilities). You can always select more than one commitment preference on your profile.

• Compensation:

  Reflect on whether you would like to receive compensation. Note that under most regulations, you are not allowed to take payment for sperm, but you can be compensated for your time and expenses related to the donation. You can only select one option for compensation.

Step 2: Do your research

We recommend that you take some time to research the legal implications of becoming a known donor in your country. In many countries in the world, as a known donor, you become the legal father of the child. Regulations vary by region, and legal parenthood is often determined based on the donation method and the marital status of the future parent. You should also familiarize yourself with the medical tests required to ensure a safe journey for everyone; this typically includes comprehensive STI screenings and sometimes genetic testing to provide full transparency to the future family.

Step 3: Download the app and create your account

Once you have decided on your priorities, download Y factor and create your donor account. You choose "donor" as your role and confirm your details. You can be anonymous on Y factor and do not have to provide your real name to the public. We ask you to provide your nickname, age, and location, along with your donation preferences and any information about your biological children. This includes children of your own, previous successful private donations, or if you have ever been a bank donor. Y factor is an inclusive platform, but you need to be fully transparent about your donation background at all times.

Step 4: Build out your donor profile

Your profile is where future parents start to understand who you are as a human. The more complete your profile, the better. On Y factor, you can complete your profile with the following voluntary information:

• Photos:

  Add a photo where your face is clearly visible and a full-body photo. Avoid mirror selfies, sunglasses, or AI-generated visuals. Adding baby photos is a great way to help future parents imagine what their child might look like.

• About text:

  Tell us who you are, why you are donating, and what is important to you. This is where your personality can really shine.

• Values & Stats:

  Select up to 5 values that resonate with you. You can also share physical traits (eye/hair color, height), lifestyle info (activity level), and your occupation or education.

Be honest, not perfect. A grounded, real profile builds far more trust than a polished profile.

Step 5: Start browsing and connecting

Once you are live, you will appear in searches that match your criteria. You can also browse profiles of future parents to see who is out there. It is normal not to feel a connection with everyone; we actually encourage you to be selective. When you see a profile you like, add it to your favorites or give it a "like."

If the like is returned, you have a match! Start by chatting to get to know the future parents. You can use Y factor’s in-app voice and video calls to connect without sharing your personal phone number or social media. Take your time to build trust and always respect each other's boundaries.

Step 6: Agreements, tests, and logistics

Once you both feel good about the match, you move into the practical stage. This is where you make a donation plan together. You will schedule medical screenings for STIs, sperm quality, and potential genetic screening, share results safely, and ideally draft a written agreement with the support of your own lawyers. Ethical, safe donation takes time, so do not let anyone rush you through these steps.

Before getting started, it can be smart to discuss timelines with the future parent(s). It might take a few cycles to get pregnant, which is totally normal. If you choose to donate outside of a clinic (i.e. home insemination or intercourse), this means you should plan for a few meet-ups in the next few months. If getting pregnant takes too long, we recommend consulting a fertility specialist.

Step 7: First donation

Stay in close contact with the future parent(s) to understand their ovulation window and plan to meet accordingly. Talk about how you can plan for safety for both parties, so that everyone feels comfortable. That might mean meeting in a neutral location, such as a hotel.

Your first donation should never feel like a surprise. By the time you get here, you should know exactly who you are helping, how the donation will happen, and what your role is during and after the process. Y factor cannot stand in the room with you, but we aim to give you the tools, information, and language you need to approach this step.

Step 8: Reflect and review your boundaries

After each donation, take a moment to breathe and reflect. Ask yourself how it felt, if your boundaries still feel right, and if you want to do this again. You are always allowed to adjust your preferences, pause your profile, or stop altogether. Your well-being and integrity matter.

If you have any questions about how to get started on your sperm donor journey, you can always reach out to the Y factor team at support@yfactor.app, and we will guide you through the process.