Sperm donation regulations vary, but generally, donors must be healthy, disease-free, and have a healthy sperm count. They may also need to undergo a physical and psychological evaluation, and be within a certain age range. Unhealthy lifestyles and certain medical conditions may disqualify a donor.
Sperm donation regulations can vary depending on where the donor lives. Many sperm banks, however, will first make sure that any man who wishes to become a sperm donor is generally healthy. This usually includes testing and screening for genetic defects, communicable diseases, and sperm count. In many areas, a sperm donor must be within a certain age range.
Sperm donors should generally be healthy males. Many sperm banks will deny some men interested in donating sperm, if they are unhealthy or don’t lead a healthy lifestyle. A donor should not be overweight, for example, nor should he be a heavy drinker or smoker.
Before donating sperm, a man will often be screened for certain genetic and chromosomal abnormalities. These types of medical problems are usually hereditary and can be passed on to a baby conceived with your sperm. A family history of Down syndrome or sickle cell disease, for example, usually disqualifies a man from donating sperm.
Most diseases, especially sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also disqualify a man from donating sperm. Often he will be asked to honestly fill out a questionnaire to determine his risk of contracting these types of communicable diseases. Medical professionals can also be turned away from sperm banks, as they come into contact with these kinds of diseases on a daily basis. Men who have unprotected sex or who have sex with multiple partners are also often not allowed to donate sperm, as this behavior can increase the risk of contracting certain dangerous STIs.
A physical exam is also usually required before a man can begin donating sperm. During this exam, a doctor will check a man’s overall health. They will usually also be asked to provide blood, urine and semen samples. Blood and urine samples will be used to check for diseases. The semen sample will be used to determine if a man has a healthy sperm count.
Some sperm banks may also require prospective donors to undergo a psychological evaluation and IQ test. This is usually not required by law, but can help sperm recipients determine which sperm they would like to receive, based on a donor’s personality and intelligence. Pictures or a physical description may also be requested.
Men also need to be of a certain age to donate sperm. Usually, a donor will need to be over 18, but under 40. This age range can vary, depending on the sperm bank, but it is between these ages that a man is most fertile. As he gets older, the amount of healthy sperm in his semen will usually start to decrease.
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