Sperm donation is a regulated medical procedure where a man provides his sperm to help individuals or couples conceive a child.
This is typically done through a licensed sperm bank or fertility clinic. While donors receive compensation for their time and commitment, many are also motivated by the desire to help others build their families. This guide explains the eligibility requirements, the donation process, financial compensation, and the critical legal aspects of becoming a sperm donor.
To ensure the health of both the donor and any resulting children, sperm banks follow strict eligibility criteria. While specific requirements can vary between facilities, they generally include the following:
Age: Typically between 18 and 39 years old.
Health: Applicants must be in excellent physical and mental health and have no significant personal or family history of hereditary diseases.
Genetic History: A detailed family medical history, often covering three generations, to screen for hereditary diseases.
Lifestyle: Many clinics have restrictions related to recent tattoos, drug use, and high-risk sexual behaviors. A healthy BMI and the ability to commute to the clinic are also common requirements.
Other Requirements: Some sperm banks may require donors to be pursuing or to have obtained a college degree, live within a certain distance of the clinic, and be legally authorized to work in the US.
Before acceptance, applicants undergo a rigorous, multi-stage screening process, which is provided at no cost to the applicant. Only a small percentage of applicants are accepted.
Initial Application and Semen Analysis: The process starts with an application and a semen analysis to evaluate sperm count, motility (movement), and morphology (shape). The sperm must be healthy enough to withstand the freezing and thawing process.
Medical and Genetic Screening: If the semen analysis is successful, you will undergo blood and urine tests for infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis. A comprehensive genetic screening is also performed to identify if you are a carrier for common genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis.
Physical Exam and Interview: A full physical examination is conducted, along with a detailed interview about your personal and family medical history. Many clinics also require a psychological evaluation to ensure you fully understand the implications of donation.
Becoming a sperm donor requires a significant time commitment. Accepted donors are typically required to make donations one to two times per week for a period of at least six to twelve months. To ensure a high-quality sample for each appointment, donors are instructed to abstain from ejaculation for a few days prior.
A critical part of the process is the quarantine period. All donated samples are frozen and quarantined for a minimum of six months. After this period, the donor must undergo another round of infectious disease screening. Only after these final tests come back clear are the samples released for use by recipients.
Donors are compensated for their time and commitment, not for the sperm itself. Payment can range from $70 to $150 per donation. With regular donations, it's possible to earn up to $1,400 per month. Some clinics offer signing bonuses or higher compensation for donors who complete their contract or have particularly desirable traits. This compensation is generally considered taxable income, so it is important to keep this in mind for financial planning.
When you donate through a licensed clinic, you sign a contract that relinquishes all legal parental rights and financial responsibilities for any child conceived from your donation. The recipient parent(s) are the legal parents. It is also important to understand the different types of donation:
Anonymous Donation: While this was once the standard, true anonymity is now nearly impossible to guarantee due to the widespread availability of commercial DNA testing services.
Open-Identity (or ID Disclosure) Donation: This is now the more common approach. In this model, the donor agrees that once any offspring reaches the age of 18, they can request identifying information from the sperm bank. This does not establish a parental relationship but allows for potential contact.
Clinics also limit the number of families that can be created from a single donor to prevent an over-concentration of related genetics in one geographic area.
If you are considering becoming a sperm donor, it is essential to work with a reputable and licensed facility. Look for sperm banks that meet the following criteria:
Registered with the FDA: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all human tissue banks, including sperm banks, to ensure safety and proper procedures.
Licensed by State Health Departments: Some states, like New York and California, have their own stringent licensing requirements for tissue banks.
Accredited by the AATB: The American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) offers an additional layer of voluntary accreditation, which signifies that a bank meets high professional and quality standards.
Choosing an accredited and licensed clinic, such as California Cryobank or Fairfax Cryobank, helps protect all parties involved: the donor, the recipient, and the future child.