sperm bank
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- a depository for storing sperm