Below we discuss how much sperm is recommended when using either home insemination, IUI, IVF, or ICSI treatment at a clinic. We hope our recommendations help you to make the best choice. If you have any questions regarding the amount of donor sperm you should order, feel free to contact our Customer Care Team.
How much donor sperm to order - Cryos' recommendations
Here is a brief overview of the different types of procedures, what you should order, and how much. Continue reading to learn more about each method and the reason for the amount of straws recommended.
| Procedure | Recommendation |
| Home insemination | 2 x ICI/IUI straw MOT10 or higher |
| IUI | 1 x IUI straw MOT10 or higher |
| IVF | 1 x IUI straw MOT5 or higher |
| ICSI | 1 x IUI straw MOT5 or higher |
Donor sperm for home insemination
For the home insemination process, both ICI and IUI straws can be used. We recommend using 2 x ICI or IUI, MOT10 straws. In order to have the best chance of getting pregnant we recommend that you plan around your most fertile time by inseminating once you have an LH surge and then again 12 hours later.
MOT5 straws are specifically made for clinics to use for insemination. We are unable to recommend them for home insemination because they contain an insufficient number of motile sperm cells for most women to get pregnant. For best results, we suggest using a urine ovulation test kit, available at any pharmacy. Please follow the instructions in the package and track your ovulation.
If you want to learn more about the cost of home insemination compared to other fertility treatments, we recommend you follow the link to our blog post on the subject.
What is MOT?
MOT is an abbreviation for ‘motility’ and means the number of millions of motile (moving) sperm cells per ml. For example, a MOT10 means there are at least 10 million motile (moving) sperm cells per ml. Our straws are sold in .5 ml straws, so in each Cryos .5ml MOT10 straw, we guarantee a minimum of 5 million motile sperm.
Follow the link to find a further explanation about sperm motility or MOT.
ICI treatment at a fertility clinic
For ICI treatment, we recommend using 2 MOT10 straws or higher. Both IUI and ICI straws can be used, depending on your clinic’s preferences.
IUI treatment
We recommend using 1 x IUI MOT10 straw per treatment, but a higher or lower MOT can be used if your clinic consents. We recommend that you always ask your clinic for advice before you place your order. ICI straws can only be used if the sperm is prepared at your clinic prior to treatment. If you use ICI straws, we recommend 4 x ICI MOT5, 2 x ICI MOT10, or 1 x ICI MOT20 straw or higher, per treatment.
Many people start with ICI or IUI treatment, follow the link to read about ICI vs IUI and what separates the procedure from each other.
IVF and ICSI treatment
We recommend using a 1 x MOT5 straw. Both ICI and IUI straws can be used, but it requires that your clinic can and will prepare the sperm. Straws with a higher MOT can also be used.
If you are in the process of ordering sperm, you might want to read about the shipment and delivery. Follow the link to our page Shipping and delivery of donor sperm.
We are here to help
Speak with one of our Customer Care representatives today to answer any questions you have about the amount of donor sperm to order. If you want inspiration regarding the choice of donor, then follow the link to our guide on how to choose a sperm donor.
Reach us via phone at (407) 203-1175, email us at [email protected], or chat with us during regular operating hours through this website.