How does looking for sperm donors work? how do sperm banks work?

You can only get sperm donors through sperm banks. The reason is that otherwise, the sperm donor remains on the hook as a father, legally. You are taking a risk as well. Just like an adoptee has no idea what her family health history is like, you don't know FOR CERTAIN about the family health history of your donor. All you know for sure about are the tests that the sperm bank did on him prior to donation. There have been occasions where donors have not told sperm banks about a family history of illness either because they didn't know at the time of donation or they wanted to get the cash for their donation. I have an acquaintance who artificially inseminated herself (often called turkey baster method). She selected her sperm donor from an online bank with her specific criteria (she wanted someone who was RH negative), they shipped the sample on the date she requested, she inseminated herself (using a syringe without a needle) and just last month had a baby boy. She has already paid for 6 other samples. The sperm bank keeps them until she needs them (so both her planned children have the same parents). Any she doesn't use will be released to someone else (she would get money for that, of course). Most people have the sperm shipped to their doctor's office who then uses a tube to insert the sperm directly in the uterus, thus increasing the chances of success. Finally, cost. Sperm typically costs about $600 per vial for one insertion. If you have your gynecologist do it, I'd say roughly $500 additional. This assumes that you have no infertility issues. edited to add: In response to your additional questions, I wanted to add that some banks don't require a doctor at all, but your gyn can actually help you, so keep him/her in the loop. If you don't know your cycles well, or they vary, sometimes injections of hormones can help. IUI is Intra Uterine Insemination. That is when the doctor puts the sperm directly in your uterus. Most of the other methods I believe required In Vitro.