Emily Webb’s unique “sperm cake” has gained quite a bit of attention online.
At 36, Webb feels a strong urge for motherhood, but many single men out there — without serious relationships — are turning to sperm donors for assistance. She decided to infuse some humor into her search through an unconventional “cum shower.”
“IVF isn’t exactly a joyride, so I thought I’d make the most of this,” she shared in a viral video about her baby daddy bash. “With sperm banks all over, narrowing down choices was tough. I settled on 12 banks and got my friends involved to help me choose.”
“We had decorations, unusual themed foods, and a coordinated music playlist,” she exclaimed. “It was all pretty unnecessary but a ton of fun. In the end, we all seemed to pick the same favorites, so I guess it worked!”
Webb is part of the rising trend of Single Mothers by Choice (SMBC). This collective comprises women who opt to raise children independently rather than wait for the ideal partner. A lively community has formed on social media around the hashtag #SMBC, racking up over 288,000 posts on Instagram and around 24,600 posts on TikTok.
This movement appears timely, especially since recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that 40% of U.S. births are to unwed mothers. A report from 2025 noted a staggering 140% increase in single mothers aged 30 and older over the last 30 years.
While some are eager to conceive before their biological clocks run out, others, like Webb, are opting for fully harvested sperm and in vitro fertilization to reach their dreams of motherhood.
“This entire journey is really stressful and not enjoyable,” she expressed, reflecting on her IVF process.
As a registered nurse, Webb began the egg-freezing process at 35 after growing concerned about her dwindling chances of conception.
“Dating wasn’t going well, and I started feeling the pressure of my biological clock. Living in a small town, I went on dates, but nothing felt quite right,” Webb recounted. “My timeline for finding a partner is flexible, but my biological clock isn’t. I can’t imagine my life without kids, so I chose to go for it alone.”
That being said, raising a child solo can be a challenge.
“I had to go through hormonal stimulation for egg retrieval, which wasn’t awful, but it involved a lot of traveling—about an hour and a half for blood tests and another 30 minutes for ultrasounds, all before 10 AM for two weeks,” she noted, living quite a distance from a clinic.
“I learned that local labs don’t provide same-day hormone test results, which caught me off guard. I’ll probably have to do that drive again,” she added with a sigh.
“I drove seven hours for the egg retrieval and managed to freeze 15 eggs, but we’re nearing our insurance limit before we can create embryos.”
“We’re looking to fertilize some of these eggs and do an embryo transfer if everything falls into place,” she explained. “This is where it really got interesting!”
After selecting 12 potential donors, Webb threw a “donor draft” inviting around 20 friends for her quirky sperm shower, which blended elements of a bachelorette and baby shower.
“I had friends from various circles join, and one drove six hours just to be there. Even my best friend’s mom surprised me with a sperm cake! It was delicious and a lot of fun,” she said enthusiastically.
The event turned out to be a hit, with guests engaged in the selection process, filling out comment and score cards for the donors. “They really took it seriously, which was awesome,” Webb remarked.
Social media users also joined in, praising her event with comments like, “I would pay to attend this party!” and “She made a tough decision into something truly enjoyable.”
The attendees enjoyed various sperm-themed snacks, including creatively shaped cakes and cheeky sodas.
Her “Nacho Daddy” bar was a centerpiece at the shower, accompanied by a detailed presentation and scorecards for evaluating the prospective donors.
“We even had a repository of facts on each donor, paired with music that reminded everyone of them,” Webb explained. “After that, we dug deeper into health histories, family backgrounds, and even some personal letters.”
Some profiles were impressively detailed, including SAT scores and GPAs. Ultimately, she and her friends narrowed it down to two strong candidates.
“I really appreciated that my top two choices had excellent health backgrounds,” she mentioned. “They were articulate, well-educated, and seemed to resonate with my personality. Plus, they were cute!”
Webb eventually found someone who felt right for her.
“The donor I picked was thoughtful and emotionally perceptive, working in holistic wellness. My friends also enjoyed him, and I likely would have chosen him, too,” she said with a smile.
She plans to begin the embryo creation process in the coming months.
“If we’re fortunate enough to have at least one healthy baby, we’ll do an embryo transfer and hopefully conceive,” Webb shared. “I know the journey can be unpredictable, but I’m ready to give it a go.”
With a sense of community support, Webb eagerly anticipates motherhood.
“I feel genuinely backed by this community. If I have a child, I know they will be surrounded by love,” she said confidently.
“Caring for kids is something I’ve always been drawn to, so if anyone can tackle this solo, it’s me!”
