Woman goes viral for hosting 'sperm shower' party to choose IVF donor with friends

'I always knew I wanted to be a mom, and I just didn’t want to wait anymore,' she said

A 36-year-old woman has gone viral after turning a deeply personal fertility journey into a celebration, hosting a unique “sperm shower” to help choose a donor for her IVF process.

Emily Webb, a registered nurse and lactation consultant, organized the unconventional event as she pursued single motherhood through sperm donation. Reflecting on her decision, Webb said, “I always knew I wanted to be a mom, and I just didn’t want to wait anymore.”

Webb explained that the IVF process can feel isolating and overwhelming, involving hormone injections, travel, and multiple medical procedures. “IVF is really hard. It’s very clinical, very emotional, and very lonely at times,” she shared, adding that she wanted to create a moment of joy within the experience.

@emwebbrn

Part of this process involves creating embryos with a sperm donor. There really isn’t anything fun about IVF so I decided to take the opportunity to enjoy this part. There are banks all over the country so it was hard to narrow down my choices! I settled on 12 and invited my friends over to vote and narrow down the choices. I decorated, had weird themed foods, and presented the choices with coordinating music and all. So extra but it was pretty fun. Ultimately everybody had the same favorites so I would consider it a success! #spermdonors😂 #singlemombychoice #soloivfjourney #smbcjourney #becomingsmbc

♬ Man I Need - Olivia Dean

That desire led to the now-viral “sperm shower,” where around 20 of her friends and family gathered to support her in choosing a donor. The party featured themed food, games, and a structured selection process. “If people get to celebrate weddings and babies, why can’t I celebrate this step too?” Webb said.

For the event, Webb shortlisted 12 potential donors and presented their profiles to guests, including details like medical history, personality traits, and even voice recordings. “We had scorecards, we had discussions, it was like a draft,” she said, describing the interactive process.

Guests carefully reviewed each candidate before narrowing the list down to a few top choices. Webb ultimately selected a donor who stood out for his emotional intelligence and overall compatibility. “He just felt right,” she said. “It was important to me that he seemed kind and self-aware.”

The support from her loved ones made a significant impact. “It turned something that felt really heavy into something really special,” Webb shared.

Now, Webb plans to move forward with creating embryos and hopes for a successful transfer in the near future. While acknowledging the uncertainties of IVF, she remains optimistic. “I feel really good about where I’m at,” she said. “I’m excited for what’s next.”

Her story has resonated widely online, offering a fresh and empowering perspective on modern paths to parenthood, one where community, humor, and support play a central role.