Definition

Noun: A specialized facility that collects, freezes, stores, and distributes donated human sperm for the purpose of artificial insemination or other assisted reproductive technologies.

Usage

A "sperm bank" is a medical or commercial repository. It is used when discussing fertility treatments, family planning for single individuals or same-sex couples, and medical procedures requiring donor genetic material.

Examples

• The couple visited a sperm bank to find a suitable donor.
• She chose a donor from a reputable sperm bank.
• Modern sperm banks perform rigorous health and genetic screenings.

Advanced Usage

• Conceptual Use: The term can be used metaphorically to describe any repository or reserve of valuable material for future use, though this is less common.
  • The seed vault acts as a botanical sperm bank for the world's crops.

Variants and Related Words

• Sperm donor (n): An individual who provides sperm to a sperm bank.
• Cryobank (n): A broader term for a facility that stores biological materials (like sperm, eggs, or tissue) at very low temperatures.

Synonyms

• Cryobank (in specific contexts)
• Semen repository
• Gamete bank

Related Phrases/Idioms

(This term is a specific compound noun and is not typically used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.)

Noun

1. a depository for storing sperm