Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about donor matching and co-parenting through Gene Pool.
What is Gene Pool?
Gene Pool is a platform connecting sperm donors with intended recipients and co-parents. We help people building non-traditional families find compatible partners - verified, screened, and matched on genetic + lifestyle compatibility rather than romantic chemistry.
Who is Gene Pool for?
Single women and same-sex couples seeking sperm donors. Sperm donors looking for recipients (known-donor arrangements). People interested in platonic co-parenting partnerships. We support all family configurations.
How do you screen donors?
All donors complete a profile with verified identity, health history, education, family background, and personality information. Donors who choose to share genetic data go through carrier screening for serious recessive conditions (cystic fibrosis, sickle cell, Tay-Sachs, etc.). The match algorithm flags genetic-incompatibility risks before introductions.
What's the difference between known and anonymous donation?
Known-donor arrangements (the focus of Gene Pool) mean both parties know each other's identity and may have an ongoing relationship - anything from annual updates to active co-parenting. Anonymous donation through clinics is a different model not directly supported here, though clinic-mediated cycles can use Gene Pool donors.
Is genetic testing required to use Gene Pool?
No. You can create a profile and search without uploading DNA. Carrier screening becomes important when you've identified a candidate donor or recipient - the platform encourages it before legal/medical agreements but doesn't gate matchmaking on it.
How does co-parent matching work?
Co-parenting matches go beyond donor selection - they pair people who want to actively share parenting responsibilities without being romantically partnered. Compatibility looks at parenting philosophy, location proximity, financial stability, family-of-origin support, and long-term agreement on schooling, religion, and health decisions.
Is my data private and safe?
Yes. Gene Pool is HIPAA-covered under signed BAA. Genetic data is encrypted and stored separately from profile information. Your donor/recipient inquiries are private - only revealed to people you explicitly choose to message.
What about legal agreements?
Gene Pool doesn't draft legal agreements but strongly recommends a known-donor or co-parenting agreement (jurisdiction-dependent) be in place before conception. We can refer to family-law attorneys experienced in donor agreements.