Question & Answer

General Questions:

  1. How long does it take to get started?
    It usually takes about 1 week to return the Donor Agreement. Some recipients have scheduled their first pick-up within 1-2 weeks of contacting Trent. Please contact Trent before sending the Donor Agreement.
  2. If we are not successful the first time, can we try again?
    Trent's intent is to remain available until a succesful outcome!
  3. Can any resulting child ever meet you?
    If requested by the parents. See Donor Agreement and Involvement for more info.
  4. How much does the sperm cost?
    Free.
  5. Is this for real?
    Trent's background (Identification) is available on the background page. National media coverage is available on the Media page.
  6. Can we schedule multiple pick-ups during the same cycle (month) to improve our odds?
    New recipients (within the first 3 months) may request up to three donations per cycle spaced at least 24 hours apart when the calendar permits.  During busy donation months, recipients who have received donations longer than 3 months are asked to limit requests to one-two per month.
  7. Is there a wait list?
    If the calendar is full during the requested date, then the recipient is asked to check back again for availability.
  8. Is is possible to double-book on the calendar as a back-up recipient?
    If the calendar is full during the requested date, then the recipient is asked to check back again for availability. 
  9. We are female partners. Would you agree to donate to both partners?
    Yes, if the calendar permits. Both recipients are asked to notarize individual Donor Agreements.
  10. How many interested recipients contact you per year?
    Although there is a demand, most of the requests are out-of-state or requesting shipping.  Local recipient requests are much less.
  11. Do you store specimems that can be used years later?
    The donations are provided fresh (meaning that it should be transferred to the recipient immediately).
  12. Do you donate to single women or surrogate mothers?
    Donations are provided to married male/female couples with fertility issues, or female domestic partners.
  13. What types of donations do you provide?
    Trent donates via Artificial Insemination.
  14. How long do you plan to be a donor, how many children do you wish to have?
    Trent hopes to be able to donate for a few more years if there is demand.
  15. If we are successful, would you donate to us again for a sibling baby?
    Yes, if there is availability on the calendar.
  16. If the pregnancy is successful, do we need to notify you?
    A photo or update is appreciated for the Pregnancy History page. This step is voluntary. This step also helps allow for another recipient to take the previous recipient's place on the calendar.  Many recipients who have had babies have added Trent as a friend on Trent's Facebook which can make it easy to send photos!
  17. Can a different Donor Agreement be used?
    If an addition is required to the suggested Donor Agreement, it may be possible to add an addendum for an item not previously mentioned in the Agreement. Please plan in advance in order for both parties to review the change. Reworded copies of the Donor Agreement generally cannot be accepted, unless it is a standard agreement from another sperm bank or fertility specialist.
  18. How much time do you spend scheduling donations?
    Trent tries to spend a few minutes each day checking e-mails, scheduling, etc.
  19. Can we request a more recent STD test?
    STD testing resiults are published on the website and the recipient may wish to wait for the latest tests to be published on the STD page.
  20. Where do I get a notary done for the donor agreement?  What if I don't have ID?
    Post office, bank, library, school or university registrar, town hall, etc and ask for a notary. A notary may be able to accept other forms of IDs.
  21. Do you have any recommendations for others wishing to become a sperm donor?
    Some basic information for those wishing to donate sperm.
  22. Do you donate to recipients of other races?
    Trent has donated to recipients with Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and African American origins and there has been pregnancies.
  23. You are donating multiple times per month. Will your sperm count be low?
    Trent's sperm count has been analyzed by a lab. On busy donations months the sperm count and volume may be lower, however there has been reported pregnancies in the same month that multiple donations occurred.
  24. What type of families do you donate to?
    Trent is honored to donate to loving families and impressed by the wide range of backgrounds.  Famillies include the military, medical profession, government, law enforcement, and school teachers, among others. Some recipients are trying to save money and are seeking a free donor. Some recipients already have an adopted child and are considering a biological child.  Many of the recipients are female partners who have already adopted or are starting a family for the first time.
  25. It has been recommended that we do an official step-parent/domestic partner adoption. Will you sign an official form through our county services relinquishing all rights?
    Yes. Please ask the county to contact Trent directly at Trent's contact mailing address.  This is an optional step after the baby is born.  The Donor Agreement will still be required before the first pick-up/shipping of the sperm.
  26. Have you met any of the children born from the donor sperm?
    See Tren't first impression of the babies he has met.
             -Trent is happy to be photographed/videoed by the parents if desired.
             -Additionally, many families have sent photos and updates, or keep in touch via Facebook.
  27. How can the half-siblings from different recipients know each other?
    Please see the section:  About the Babies.  Also, there is a large non-profit organization that tracks sperm donor children that offers some free services at Donor Sibling Registry.
  28. Do you offer interviews for the media?
    Trent is happy to describe his motivation as a donor and can be contacted via e-mail / phone.
  29. Do you accept financial donations?
    Please consider making a donation to one of these causes that Trent has past experience volunteering with:
    -Philip Hayden Foundation for Chinese Orphans (http://www.chinaorphans.org)
    -National Childhood Cancer Foundation (http://www.curesearch.org)

    Money cannot be accepted by Trent.  Some recipients have sent holiday letters or local organic food, which Trent appreciates!  Click to see Trent's diet.

  30. Is there a hidden motivation?  Do you intend to sue for compensation or child custody if I have a baby?
    Please see the reasons to donate page.
     

Questions about picking up the sperm:

  1. What if we need to cancel/reschedule the local pick-up?
    Contact Trent via e-mail or send a text message.
  2. Can we meet you first in person before scheduling our first sperm pickup?
    Suggested meeting location:

    The Nile Cafe (in historic downtown Niles, Fremont)
    121 I St
    (between Niles Blvd & Iron Horse Ln)
    Fremont, CA 94536
    (510) 791-6049
    theNileCafe.com 

    Suggested time: Saturdays, 8:00AM-8:30AM
    It is highly recommended that both partners, spouse, or other family member are present for the meeting.  Contact trent via e-mail to schedule a meeting.  This can also be a time to exchange/sign Donor Agreements in order to save on document shipping costs as there is a notary located at the Postal Annex in a nearby shopping center

  3. Can we receive multiple donations during the same fertility cycle (month) to improve our odds?
    Yes, if the calendar permits it. For higher sperm count, allow 24 hours between donations. For example, one donation could be picked up in the evening, and then another donation the following evening. During busy donation months, the calendar may be limited, see pick-up instructions for more info. 
  4. We would like to travel from out of state to pick up the sperm.
    Traveling great distances to the San Francisco area to pick up the sperm should be carefully considered as it may be costly and stressful to the recipient, and should be discussed with one's physician / fertility specialist before attempting.
  5. What if we need to change the pick-up date at the last minute?
    Notify Trent via e-mail or cell phone if it is the last minute.  The date can easily be changed on the calendar if there is availability.

 

Information regarding other donors:

  1. Do you know other donors who can donate?
    The links section contains some information regarding commercial and non-profit organizations that provide information on sperm donations.
  2. Do you have any suggestions for others who are interested in donating sperm?
    There is a page for donors who are interested in donating sperm and it describes some of Trent's experiences as a donor.

 

Commercial Vendors

 

The following are commercial vendors that Trent has contracts, agreements, or accounts with for donor-related services and supplies:

  1. NW Andrology and Cyrobank (http://www.nwcryobank.com/)
    508 West 6th, Suite #610
    Spokane, WA 99204
    1-800-786-5251
    Products Purchased: Shipping kit
     
  2. Lake Charles Manufacturing (http://www.testtubesonline.com)
    4905 Common St
    Lake Charles LA 70607
    866-739-4600
    Products Purchased: 4.5oz Specimen Cup and Cap, Sterile
    Transfer Pipette
     
  3. Viromed Laboratories, LabCorp (http://www.viromed.com)
    6101 Blue Circle Drive
    Minnetonka, MN 55343
    800-582-0077
    Products Purchased: STD Test # 139062 (FDA Guidance Male No Reflex)
     
  4. PrivateMD Labs (http://www.privatemdlabs.com)
    93A Mathis Dr. #214
    Dickson, TN 37055
    877 283 7882 
    Products Purchased: Genetic Screening
     
  5. FedEx (www.fedex.com)
    Three Galleria Tower
    13155 Noel Road, Suite 1600
    Dallas, TX 75240
    800 463-3339
    Products Purchased: Express shipping lab pack service 
     
  6. Brady Healthcare Labels (http://www.bradyid.com)
    Brady United States
    6555 W. Good Hope Rd
    Milwaukee, WI 53223
    888 250 3082
    Products Purchased: IDXPERT Label Printer and Labeling Cartridge (XC-1000-580-WT-BK)
     
  7. Postal Annex #449, Notary Public (http://www.postalannex.com)
    3964 Rivermark Plaza
    Santa Clara, CA 95054
    408-980-9200
    Products Purchased: California Notarization
     
     

 

News Media Articles / Media Inquiries

 

Contact:
Please contact Trent on the contact page, or feel free to reference the published information available on this web site.


Past Media Appearances:

Link (click to read) Artilcle Date
Citizen's Journal Teen's Hobby on Right Wave 12-Sep-1990
San Francisco Chronicle UCSF study takes closer look at calorie restrictors 28-Apr-2011
USA TODAY.com Could 'extreme' low-cal diets bring longer, healthier life? 27-May-2011
Newsweek/The Daily Beast 'Free Sperm Donors' and the Women Who Want Them 02-Oct-2011
CNN HLN Joy Behar Show 07-Oct-2011
ABCNews.com Sperm Donors Offer Services For Free, With No Anonymity 10-Oct-2011
NewsTalk 1010- Canada’s largest talk radio station The Jim Richards Show 24-Oct-2011
Sirius / XM Radio Jay Thomas radio show 14-Nov-2011
CBS 5 KPIX San Francisco FDA Cracks Down On Fremont Man’s Sperm Donations 06-Dec-2011
NBC 11 KNTV Bay Area Local Man Fails to Excite FDA With Sperm Donations 08-Dec-2011
Huffington Post Sperm Donor, Gets Cease Order From The FDA 08-Dec-2011
FoxNews.com FDA Cracking Down on Online Sperm Donor 08-Dec-2011
NY Daily News California man has made 328 semen donations to 46 couples, fathering at least 14 children 09-Dec-2011
Oakland Tribune Fremont sperm donor in feds cross hairs 13-Dec-2011
San Jose Mercury News Drummond: Fremont sperm donor in feds cross hairs 13-Dec-2011
FOX KTVU San Francisco Renegade sperm bank donor claims he’s helping the 99 percent 13-Dec-2011
KGO News Talk 810AM Bret Burkhart and Chris Brecher radio show 13-Dec-2011
SFWeekly.com FDA Orders Cease-and-Desist on Silicon Valley Man's Sperm 13-Dec-2011
MSNBC FDA cracks down on DIY sperm donor in Calif. 14-Dec-2011
Gawker Feds Crack Down on Guy Who Wants to Give You His Sperm for Free 14-Dec-2011
KSDK 5 St Louis FDA wants man to stop free sperm donations 14-Dec-2011
Dailymail UK Meet the 'organic' sperm donor from Silicon Valley 14-Dec-2011
CNN One-man sperm bank ordered to shutdown 14-Dec-2011
MediaIte.com CNN’s Brooke Baldwin Cracks Up During Report On At-Home Sperm Bank 14-Dec-2011
101 WRIF - Detroit Drew & Mike Show 16-Dec-2011
WHK Newstalk 1420 AM - Cleveland Conservative Talk Radio -  Real Law Radio 17-Dec-2011
Time Magazine Fertility - FDA Tells Man to Stop Donating Sperm on the Internet  19-Dec-2011
San Francisco Chronicle Sperm donor in Fremont feeling heat from feds 19-Dec-2011
El mundo - Spain (In Spanish) 'Deje de donar semen o irá a prisión' 19-Dec-2011
La Capital - Argentina (In Spanish) Si sigue donando semen en forma compulsiva terminará en prisión 20-Dec-2011
KFI Talk Radio 640 AM - Los Angeles John and Ken Show - Sperm Man 20-Dec-2011
Los Angeles Times Feds warn Fremont man who gives out his sperm for free 20-Dec-2011
Gawker The Porny Pastimes of the World’s Most Famous Sperm Donor 21-Dec-2011
CKNW - Vancouver, Canada Talk Radio Morning Show 22-Dec-2011
Los Angeles Times The FDA and the sperm donor 22-Dec-2011
KFOG Radio Morning Show 22-Dec-2011
KSLG 94.1 FM FDA vs. Bay Area Sperm Donor 23-Dec-2011
Sirius / XM Radio Jay Thomas radio show  (in studio) 05-Jan-2012
SF Weekly Bay Area Man Flooded with Sperm Requests 04-Jan-2012
KJR 95.7 FM Seattle The Bob Rivers Show with Spike and Joe (mp3) 06-Jan-2012
ABC 20/20 Prolific Sperm Donor's Fertility Smoothie 12-Jan-2012
ABC 20/20 From Hotel Rooms to Coffee Shops: New World of Online Sperm Donation 13-Jan-2012
ABCNews.com Trent Arsenault’s Fertility Smoothie Recipe 13-Jan-2012
Anderson Headline-Makers: The One-Man Sperm Bank 17-Jan-2012
SF Weekly Trent Arsenault, Prolific Sperm Donor 17-Jan-2012
Sirius/XM Radio The Playboy Morning Show 18-Jan-2012
Sirius/XM Radio The Playboy Morning Show - Guest of the Week 20-Jan-2012
Huffington Post My Daddy's a Porn Star 20-Jan-2012
Channel 7 (Australia) Sunrise 23-Jan-2012
2day (Australia) Kyle and Jackie O Show 24-Jan-2012
6PR (Australia) Drive with Howard Sattler, Father of fourteen a virgin 24-Jan-2012
Huffington Post Live Q&A with Trent Arsenault 03-Feb-2012
New York Magazine The Virgin Father 05-Feb-2012
The Advocate Magazine Meet the Bay Area's Baby Daddy 01-Mar-2012
ITV This Morning (United Kingdom) The Virgin Father 05-Mar-2012
Canadian Medical Association Age, sex, location … sperm count? 22-Mar-2012

 

Sperm Count, low sperm count, sperm donor

 

  1. Do you know other donors?
    Below are links to web sites where other donors can be found:
    Free Sperm Donor Registry
    Free Sperm Donors Worldwide
    FreeSpermDonors (Yahoo Groups)
    Free Sperm Donors Worldwide (Yahoo Groups)

    Trent does not know any of these or other donors
     

  2. Any advice for sperm count, male fertility ?

    A desire to help others and a hunger for life.  See the Sperm count page, diet,  &  fertility page for more info
     

  3. What are the possible donor costs for donating year round?
  Quantity Cost Each Total Source
Donor's STD Testing Fees for ten diseases 24 (two each month) $1,699.99 $40,799.76 FDA Test panel, Private MD
Donor's Comprehensive physical exam 2 (separated by 6 months) $155.00 $310.00  
M.D. hourly rate (review tests, determine eligibility) 4 hours $310.00/hr $1,240.00  
Sterile Collection Cups 500 cups $50.00 $50.00  
         
         

 

  1. How to get started as a donor?
    Familiarity with:

    Federal and state regulations
    Contract or donor agreement
    State family code
    Contact and Background information
     

  2. Other places for help?

    Some additional links to donor resources are provided in the links section.