Frequently asked questions

How many vials of sperm should I freeze before starting cancer treatment?

Short answer: as many as you can afford and have time to freeze. But the ideal number of samples to store also depends on your future plans. A few questions you might consider:

Do you have kids already? If you don’t, there may be a higher chance that you’ll want more kids in the future.
What is your cancer treatment plan? If you need surgery to remove testicles or another treatment that will impact sperm production permanently, you may want to freeze more sperm.

Generally speaking, one vial of sperm is used in each IUI or IVF procedure.

1 semen sample = 4 vials of frozen sperm
1 vial of frozen sperm = 1 IUI or IVF procedure

IUI pregnancy rates range from 10–25% per cycle; IVF success rates range from 5–50% per cycle. So, you may need multiple attempts to achieve pregnancy.

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How many vials of sperm should I freeze before TRT?

Short answer: as many as you can afford. But the ideal number of samples to store also depends on your future plans. A few questions you might consider:

Do you have kids already? If you don’t, there may be a higher chance that you’ll want kids in the future.
How old are you? If you’re in your 20s or 30s, it’s more likely that your family plans may change in the future.
Are you okay with pausing your testosterone replacement therapy in the future to start a family? If you’d rather not, then you may want to freeze more.

Generally speaking, one vial of sperm is used in each IUI or IVF procedure.

1 semen sample = 4 vials of frozen sperm
1 vial of frozen sperm = 1 IUI or IVF procedure

IUI pregnancy rates range from 10–25% per cycle; IVF success rates range from 5–50% per cycle. So, you may need multiple attempts to achieve pregnancy.

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If I test positive, can Legacy offer me treatment?

No. Because we’re a digital clinic, we can’t diagnose you with an illness or prescribe treatment. However, we will offer guidance on next steps with your results.

Your personal doctor or a clinic should be able to provide you with the proper medication or other treatment for any infections.

Can I meet with Legacy provider to review my STI testing results?

These results are for your review only, and should not be considered a diagnosis. If you have questions about your results, please speak to your doctor.

If I test positive for one or more STIs, can I still use my sperm for IUI or IVF

Yes, depending on your clinic’s regulations. Depending on your results, your samples may be “quarantined,” or stored separately from others’, to prevent any cross-contamination (though cross-contamination is extremely unlikely).

When used in IUI or IVF, sperm is typically “washed,” or separated from the semen. The semen is what carries infection, not the sperm itself. The process of sperm washing is very effective at removing pathogens from sperm samples.

However, there is always the small possibility that someone who is inseminated with an STI-positive sample could contract an STI. Therefore, you should consult your doctor about the necessary consent forms or other paperwork required to use your sample.

If I test positive for one or more STIs, can I still freeze my sperm?

Yes. Depending on your results, your samples may be “quarantined,” or stored separately from others’, to prevent any cross-contamination (though cross-contamination is extremely unlikely).

However, we cannot guarantee that your chosen fertility clinic will allow you to store or use STI-positive semen samples in the future. We recommend discussing this with your fertility clinic.

Does this test kit include all of the STI screening tests required for IUI and IVF?

In 49 of 50 states, the STI screening required by most fertility clinics is identical to the panel we offer: chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and C, HIV 1 & 2, and syphilis.

In California, fertility clinics may also require screening for HTLV (human T-lymphotropic virus). Unfortunately, there is currently no at-home testing option for this virus. If you may freeze or use your sperm sample in California, we recommend talking to your doctor about in-person HTLV testing.

If I’m freezing more than one sample, do I need to do STI testing again?

Not necessarily. Your STI results are valid for 12 months. If you’re freezing a sample and it’s been more than a year since you got your STI results, you should consider doing an updated STI test.

Do I perform my STI test before or after sperm analysis?

If you’re doing an STI screening before you freeze a sperm sample, we recommend doing STI screening before or at the same time as your sperm analysis kit.

If you’re doing STI testing simply to screen for possible infection, you can do it at any time.

Is it necessary to get tested for STIs before freezing my sperm?

STI testing is not required by Legacy. However, STI screening prior to freezing sperm is required by many fertility clinics. To ensure that your sample can be used at any fertility center or medical practice in the future, we strongly advise STI screening in the 6 months prior to freezing a sample.

Our at-home STI test kit is included with For Tomorrow and Forever packages. If you are purchasing a For Today kit with monthly, yearly, or 5-year cryogenic storage, we recommend ordering an at-home STI kit as well.

Is this at-home STI testing kit available in every state?

At-home STI testing is available in every US state.

Is the kit reliable?

Yes. Legacy’s at-home STI screening kit is tested in a CLIA-certified laboratory. Every test performed as part of this kit is nearly 100% specific and sensitive, meaning it has a very low chance of producing false positives or negatives.

Can I use my FSA or HSA to pay for at-home STI testing?

Legacy’s at-home STI testing kit is not currently eligible for coverage or reimbursement from an FSA or HSA.

Can Legacy’s STI testing kit be used by females?

This is a male STI testing kit, intended for use by people with penises. STI testing for people with vaginas involves different testing methods, and this kit will not return accurate results.

How long will it take to receive my STI Test Kit, and to receive my results?

Legacy’s STI Test Kit is shipped using USPS First Class Mail. It will arrive 1–3 business days after you place your order.

After you complete your tests, you’ll mail your samples back to our lab. This shipping will take approximately 1–3 business days. Then, your results will be available in your client dashboard 3–5 business days after our lab receives the samples.

Overall, the testing process takes about 1 week.

What equipment is included in Legacy’s STI Test Kit?

Contents include:

For urine collection

A collapsible urine collection cup

A pipette

A urine collection tube (preservative liquid included)

A large specimen bag

For blood collection

A blood collection card

Two alcohol pads

A sterile gauze pad

Single use lancets

Two adhesive bandages

A small specimen bag with desiccant pack

How is STD testing done?

In a traditional clinic or lab, STI testing involves:

A urine sample

A blood draw

Possibly a swab of your genitals or rectum

Legacy’s at-home STI Testing kit requires:

A urine sample

A few drops of blood, obtained via a finger prick

When should I get tested for STIs/STDs?

The CDC recommends testing every 3–12 months, depending on your risk factors. You should consider STI testing:

After you’ve had unprotected sex with a new person, or before having unprotected sex with a new person

If a previous partner tells you they have an STI

If you have symptoms such as pain in your genitals or pelvic, pain while urinating, sores, or discharge

If you’re planning fertility treatment such as IVF or IUI

If you’re considering or planning to freeze your sperm

Does this STI Test Kit require a prescription?

No. You can order an STI Test Kit or a sperm freezing bundle without a prescription from a doctor.

Which STIs are tested in Legacy’s male STI Test Kit?

This test kit can detect the pathogens or antibodies associated with:

Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
HIV 1 and 2
Syphilis

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What is STI testing?

STI testing is a screening that uses samples of urine, blood, or other body tissues to look for indicators that a person might have a sexually transmitted infection.

STI tests look for genetic material from specific bacteria or viruses, or for the presence of specific antibodies — immune cells that show your body is reacting to a particular infection.

What’s the difference between an STI and a STD?

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is the presence of any bacteria, virus, or other pathogen that can be spread via sex. A sexually transmitted disease (STD) refers to the illness, or symptoms, caused by the infection.

In many cases, an STI may not have any symptoms. However, an infection without symptoms can still spread to others, or cause more damage inside your body.

This test screens for the presence of STIs, even if you don’t have any symptoms.

What is a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?

An STI is any infection that can spread via sex. (Some STIs can also be spread in other ways.)

What’s the refund policy for supplements?

All supplements are final sale.

Learn more about our refund policy.

What else can I do to improve my fertility?

Male fertility supplements are just one small part of sperm health improvement. Lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, moderate exercise, and enough sleep are important for your fertility, as is quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption.

Frequently asked questions

Don’t leave family to chance.